The sex pheromone of the brinjal pest, Leucinodes orbqnalis guenee (Lepidoptera) : problems and perspectives

Preliminary laboratory studies have shown the presence of pheromones of Leucinodes orbonalis, the brinjal shoot and pod borer found in Sri Lanka. Bioassay using an olfactometer revealed that the virgin female of L. orbonalis produces a sex pheromone which elicit highest response during the fist night. It was also shown that the pheromone production was discontinuous, the maximum production being around 22 : 00-24 :00 hours. Chemical investigations of the pheromone gland contents of calling females showed the presence of (E)-11- hexadecenyl acetate as the major compound while tracer amounts of (E)-11- hexadecen-1-01 was also present. Activity of the synthetic (E)-11-HDA was shown to be equal to that of the natural sample by laboratory bio assay although in field trials the synthetic sample attracted lesser number of males.