SEX PHEROMONE COMPONENTS OF THE OAK LEAF SHREDDER, CROESIA SEMIPURPURANA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

Using gas chromatography and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry analyses of sex pheromone gland volatiles, we identified E - and Z -11-tetradecenals ( E : Z -11-14:Aid) in an 85:15 blend of E : Z as the primary sex pheromone components of Croesia semipurpurana (Kearfott). Similar chemical analyses of sex pheromone gland extracts indicated the presence of the congeneric acetates (85:15 E : Z -11-14:Ac) and their saturated analogue (14:Ac); in addition, 85:15 E : Z -11-14:Alds were present at 5% of the acetates. The E : Z -11-14:Alds alone elicited trap capture; admixtures of saturated and unsaturated acetate analogues exhibited no significant synergistic or inhibitory effects. PVC rods with an 85:15 E : Z -11-14:Ald blend is recommended as a trap bait for monitoring population trends. It is unknown whether or not the components identified here represent the complete pheromone blend of this species; data from traps suspended 1.5 m above the ground versus those suspended 10 m above the ground suggest that future field studies may need to be conducted with traps positioned in the tree canopy.