Field trapping tests of (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-henicosatriene, the sex pheromone component of Bastilla arctotaenia (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), and related (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-trienes

Abstract

We conducted field trapping tests targeting Erebinae species at three sites in Tottori and Okinawa prefectures, Japan, using (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-henicosatriene (T21), identified as the sex pheromone of Bastilla arctotaenia, and mixtures of T21 and (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-trienes with 19, 20, 22, and 23 carbon chains as pheromone lures. Traps captured 7 Erebinae species, including B. arctotaenia, with species composition varying across all three sites. Two males of Mocis frugalis (Fabricius), a pest of sugarcane and rice, were captured with a single T21, and two males of Melapia bifasciata (Inoue & Sugi) were captured with a 20:1 mixture of T21 and T23. These observations suggested that T21 may be a key component of the sex pheromones of both species, and M. bifasciata may require both T21 and T23 for male attraction.