Abstract

Individual variation of the female sex pheromone signal in Agrotis segetum was determined by gas chromatographic analysis. The individuals varied extensively, both in absolute and relative amounts of the three major pheromone components; Z5-10:OAc, Z7-12:OAc and Z9-14:OAc. Within individuals there was a strong correspondence between the sex pheromone gland content and the signal actually emitted. Both pheromone amounts and proportions of components were correlated with effluvia and extracts; with coefficients of 0.55 for total amounts and 0.66 for proportions. In addition, the repeatability of emitted pheromone components by individual females over three calling periods was high, with correlation coefficients between 0.43 and 0.72. Variation among individual females, however, was observed. There were no significant differences between wild-collected and laboratory-reared females in average ratios of the major pheromone components in pheromone gland extracts, only in total amounts. The biological significance of the interindividual variation among females is discussed in the context of population dynamics and sexual selection.

Keywords

Agrotis segetum; Lepidoptera; (Z)-5-decenyl acetate; (Z)-7 dodecenyl acetate; (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate; sex pheromone; individual variation; repeatability; effluvia entrainment

Published in

Journal of Chemical Ecology
1997, Volume: 23, number: 7, pages: 1833-1850

SLU Authors

• Bengtsson, Marie

  • Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Löfqvist, Jan

  • Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOEC.0000006454.84415.5f

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/110580