Identification of a Sex Pheromone Component of the Raspberry Budmoth, Heterocrossa rubophaga

Abstract

The female-produced sex pheromone of the New Zealand raspberry budmoth, Heterocrossa rubophaga, was investigated. Gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric analyses revealed the ketone, (Z)-12–nonadecen9–one (Z12–19–9–one). This compound had previously been found in extracts of the sex pheromone gland of the only other carposine moth for which a sex pheromone has been identified, Carposina niponensis, although its effect on the behavior of C. niponensis males had not been established. Field trapping trials in berry fruit gardens showed this compound to elicit high catches of male H. rubophaga, with the catch appearing to plateau (and perhaps decrease) above a dosage of 300 μg on a red rubber septum. In an analysis of an extract of female H. rubophaga sex pheromone glands, there was a suggestion that the homologous (Z)-7–eicosen-11–one, the known sex pheromone component of C. niponensis, was also present. However this could not be established unequivocally and, in a field trial, addition of a small amount of this compound to Z12–19–9–one resulted in no significant increase in trap catch relative to traps baited with Z12–19–9–one alone.