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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #145656
Title: IDENTIFICATION OF THE SEX PHEROMONE OF THE TORTRICID MOTH, COCHYLIS ARTHURI

Author
item FOSTER, S - NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV.
item MORRIS, B - NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV.
item Charlet, Laurence
item Gross, Theresa
item Grugel, Sharon

Submitted to: The Canadian Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/4/2003
Publication Date: 10/24/2003
Citation: Foster, S.P., Morris, B.D., Charlet, L.D., Gross, T., Grugel, S. 2003. Identification of the sex pheromone of Cochylis arthuri (Lepidoptera: Cochylidae). The Canadian Entomologist. 135:713-719.

Interpretive Summary: Moth sex pheromone are useful tools for monitoring the presence and population density of pest species in commercial fields. Studies were undertaken to determine the pheromone of a moth occurring in cultivated sunflower. The sex pheromone of Cochylis arthuri Dang was identified as an 80:20 mixture of (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, respectively. C. arthuri is closely related to the banded sunflower moth, Cochylis hospes Walsingham, a major pest of sunflower in the Great Plains region of North America. Larvae of both species consume the disk flowers and developing seeds of sunflower. They are found together on sunflowers in this region, although C. arthuri appears to be much less common. In testing of the respective pheromone blends of these two species in sunflower plots, the greatest number of each species were caught in traps baited with their respective pheromone blend; significant numbers of either species were not caught in traps baited with the other's sex pheromone blend, suggesting that their respective sex pheromones are sufficient for reproductive specificity. The identification of the sex pheromone of C. arthuri will enable researchers to investigate the relative abundance, and hence the pest status, of C. arthuri on sunflowers more effectively.

Technical Abstract: The sex pheromone of Cochylis arthuri Dang was identified as an 80:20 mixture of (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, respectively. C. arthuri is a congener of the banded sunflower moth, Cochylis hospes Walsingham, a major pest of sunflower in the Great Plains region of North America. Both are found sympatrically on sunflowers in this region, although C. arthuri appears to be much less common. In testing of the respective pheromone blends of these two species in sunflower plots, the greatest number of each species were caught in traps baited with their respective pheromone blend; significant numbers of either species were not caught in traps baited with the other's sex pheromone blend, suggesting that their respective sex pheromones are sufficient for reproductive specificity. The identification of the sex pheromone of C. arthuri will enable researchers to investigate the relative abundance, and hence the pest status, of C. arthuri on sunflowers more effectively.