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Fatal interspecific mating of twoHeliothis species induced by synthetic sex pheromone

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  • Neurobiology, Behavior
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Summary

Field tests showed that 3 components of theHeliothis virescens sex pheromone when deployed individually, significantly disrupt pheromone communication of males of this species and ofH. zea. Field and wind tunnel tests indicated that males ofH. zea are attracted to and mate with the females ofH. virescens when the atmosphere is permeated with (Z)-9-tetradecenal or (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol. This mating is fatal to both individuals because of morphological incompatbility of their genitalia. Habituation ofH. zea males to these compounds is the most likely reason for this attraction between 2 species that show reproductive isolation in nature.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southern Field Crop Insect Management Laboratory, U.S.D.A., 38776, Stoneville, Mississippi, USA

    E. A. Stadelbacher, M. W. Barry, A. K. Raina & J. R. Plimmer

  2. Pheromone Programs, Hercon Division, Health-Chem Corp., 1107 Broadway, 10010, New York, New York, USA

    E. A. Stadelbacher, M. W. Barry, A. K. Raina & J. R. Plimmer

  3. Organic Chemical Synthesis Laboratory, U.S.D.A., 20705, Beltsville, Maryland, USA

    E. A. Stadelbacher, M. W. Barry, A. K. Raina & J. R. Plimmer

Authors
  1. E. A. Stadelbacher
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  2. M. W. Barry
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  3. A. K. Raina
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  4. J. R. Plimmer
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Additional information

We thank M.A. Brown, U.S. Department of Agriculture, for statistical analysis of the data and J.A. Klun for useful discussions and review of the manuscript. Mention of commercial products does not represent their endorsement by USDA. Portions of this work were supported by USDA Cooperative Agreement No. 58-32U4-1-299.

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Stadelbacher, E.A., Barry, M.W., Raina, A.K. et al. Fatal interspecific mating of twoHeliothis species induced by synthetic sex pheromone. Experientia 39, 1174–1176 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01943168

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01943168

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