Rosy Russian Gypsy Moth

The rosy Russian gypsy moth, Lymantria mathura (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), is another forest pest that has the potential to invade the U.S. via egg masses deposited on Russian ships and containers. Research was undertaken to isolate and identify the pheromone of this moth for monitoring at ports of entry and, if necessary, to track the spread of this pest. Two compounds, Z,Z,Z-3,6,9-nonadecatriene and Z,Z-(9S,10R)-9,10-epoxy-3,6-nonadecadiene, were identified from abdominal tip extracts of female moths based on GC-EAD responses and dose response curves. Single cell recordings showed that only one of the monoepoxide enantiomers (S,R) was active. In field tests, both the (S,R)-monoepoxide and the racemate were active. This type of pheromone system is more typical of those found in the families Arctiidae, Noctuidae and Geometridae, rather than Lymantriidae. Additional (racemic) material has been stockpiled for tests in the summer of 2000.