The sex pheromone of the lima bean pod borer Etiella zinckenella (Treitschke)

Abstract

The lima bean pod borer Etiella zinckenella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a severe agricultural pest attacking various leguminous crops in many areas of the world. Insecticidal control is ineffective because larvae feed inside the pods of legumes and so cannot readily be reached by sprays after egg hatch; therefore, monitoring by pheromone-baited traps would assist decisions on when to spray insecticides in a more effective and efficient manner. Four components have been found in the female pheromone glands of this species: tetradecyl acetate, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:Ac), (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:Ac), and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate. The binary blend of Z9-14:Ac and Z11-14:Ac attracts many males in Europe and North Africa but it attracts almost no males in East Asia or Australia, suggesting possible geographic variation in the pheromone communication system of this species. A recent study reexamined the sex pheromone of E. zinckenella in Japanese populations and discovered another essential component, (E)-9-dodecenyl acetate. Here, we review studies of the sex pheromone and its geographic differences in E. zinckenella and discuss the potential use of pheromones for monitoring this cosmopolitan pest of legumes.