McElfresh, JS; Millar, JG

Journal of Chemical Ecology [J. Chem. Ecol.], vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 711-726, Apr 1999

The sex attractant pheromone blend of Hemileuca nuttalli (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) from the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California was determined to be a combination of E10,Z12-hexadeca-10,12-dien-1-yl acetate (E10,Z12-16:Ac) and E10,E12-hexadeca-10,12-dien-1-yl acetate (E10,E12-16:Ac). Ratios of the compounds in extracts of female pheromone glands varied around a mean of 100:48, although the ratio was not critical in field trials. Blends of synthetic E10,Z12-16:Ac and E10,E12-16:Ac in 100:50, 50:100, and 100:100 ratios attracted equal numbers of male moths. Field trials also indicated that E10,Z12-hexadeca-10,12-dien-1-ol (E10,Z12-16:OH) and E10,Z12-hexadeca-10,12-dienal (E10,Z12-16:Ald) were antagonistic at rates of 3.3% and 10%, respectively, of the E10,Z12-16:Ac, despite being found in female moth extracts. E10,E12-16:Ac, E10,Z12-16:OH, and E10,Z12-16:Ald all appear to have roles in maintenance of reproductive isolation between H. nuttalli and H. eglanterina..