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Research article2005Peer reviewed

Identification of the sex pheromone of the swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii

Hillbur Y, Celander M, Baur R, Rauscher S, Haftmann J, Franke S, Francke W

Abstract

Coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection analyses of ovipositor extracts of calling Contarinia nasturtii females revealed two compounds that elicited responses from antennae of male midges. Using synthetic reference samples, these components were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and enantioselective GC as (2S,9S)-diacetoxyundecane and (2S,10S)-diacetoxyundecane. In addition, trace amounts of 2-acetoxyundecane were found in ovipositor extracts, and the (S)-enantiomer was synthesized. When tested in the wind tunnel, a blend of 5 ng (2S,9S)-diacetoxyundecane and 10 ng (2S,10S)-diacetoxyundecane (mimicking the ratio found in the extracts) did not attract any of the males tested, but when 0.1 ng (S)-2-acetoxyundecane was added to the blend, 86.8% of the males were attracted to the bait. Three-component blends with lower or higher relative concentrations than 1% of (S)-2-acetoxyundecane [relative to (2S,10S)-diacetoxyundecane] were less attractive. In a field trapping experiment with released laboratory-reared C. nasturtii adults, traps baited with 500:1000:10 ng of (2S,9S)-diacetoxyundecane/(2S,10S)-diacetoxyundecane/(S)-2-acetoxyundecane applied to rubber septa or dental cotton rolls were tested. Traps without dispensers were used as controls. All three treatments were tested at 20 and 50 cm above ground. The estimated recapture rate was 30-50%, and 81.9% of the recaptured males were caught in traps positioned at 20 cm above ground, and 88.4% in traps with dental cotton rolls as dispensers

Keywords

Contarinia nasturtii; swede midge; Cecidomyiidae; Diptera; sex pheromone; (2S; 9S)-diacetoxyundecane; (2S; 10S)-diacetoxyundecane; (S)-2-acetoxyundecane; GC-EAD; wind tunnel; field trapping

Published in

Journal of Chemical Ecology
2005, Volume: 31, number: 8, pages: 1807-1828
Publisher: SPRINGER

      SLU Authors

    • Hillbur, Ylva

      • Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Food Science
    Horticulture
    Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-005-5928-3

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/7221