Sex pheromone of the oriental tussock moth Artaxa subflava (Bremer) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae): Identification and field attraction

Abstract

Two compounds were isolated and identified from abdominal tips of the female oriental tussock moth, Artaxa (=Euproctis) subflava (Bremer). The major EAG-active components were identified as 10,14-dimethylpentadecyl isobutyrate (M10M14-15:iBu) and 14-methylpentadecyl isobutyrate (M14-15:iBu). Comparative GC-EAD analysis suggested that the absolute configuration of C-10 position in M10M14-15:iBu is R. Amounts of these compounds in the extract were ca. 10 and 3 ng/female, respectively. These compounds were the same compounds as those of the sex pheromone of the tea tussock moth, Arna (=Euproctis) pseudoconspersa (Strand). In field tests, (R)-10,14-dimethylpentadecyl isobutyrate [(R)-M10M14-15:iBu] showed significant attractiveness to Art. subflava males while M14-15:iBu did not. These results confirmed that (R)-M10M14-15:iBu is a component of sex pheromone of Art. subflava.