The sex pheromone of Legume Pod Borer, Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Revisited

ABSTRACT\r\n\r\nFemale produced sex pheromone of Maruca vitrata containing three components had been reported from countries in tropical Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal as a major component, (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienol and E-10-hexadecenal as minor components blended in the ratio of 100:5:5 was found to attract M. vitrata male moths in few countries in West Africa. However, this blend was found to have less or no effectiveness in trapping M. vitrata population in Asia, which triggered the need to refine the M. vitrata pheromone formulation. The isomers of major and minor pheromone compounds of M. vitrata were evaluated in this study. When subjected to Electroantennogram (EAG) analysis against male antennae, the isomer (Z,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal as a major component blended with the minor components (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienol and  (E)-10-hexadecenol in 100:10:5 was found to elicit better antennal response than the standard three component blend. GC-EAD profiles of the individual synthetic isomer components supported the EAG results. Additional experiments also confirmed the attraction of M. vitrata pheromone compounds and their isomers along with host plant volatiles in EAG and wind-tunnel experiments. Field experiments in India and Cambodia confirmed the effectiveness of improved M. vitrata pheromone lures in attracting the adult male moths in legume fields.