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Apparent long-term bodily contamination by disparlure, the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) Attractant

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Abstract

Positive attraction of male gypsy moths to the body of the author, now four years after his last known direct contact with disparlure, the synthetic pheromone, is documented. A designed test showed that moths responded to him in highly significantly greater numbers than to others who had had less or no previous exposure to the insect and / or disparlure. The data present persuasive evidence of bodily contamination with disparlure and suggest that the material is very persistent.

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Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae.

Authorized for publication as paper No. 6284 in The Journal Series of The Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station. Mention of commercial products is for information purposes only.

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Cameron, E.A. Apparent long-term bodily contamination by disparlure, the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) Attractant. J Chem Ecol 9, 33–37 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987768

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987768

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