Identification and Field Bioassay of the Sex Pheromone of Trichophysetis cretacea (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The jasmine bud borer Trichophysetis cretacea (Butler) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an important agricultural pest of jasmine flowers Jasminum sambac in China. The extract from the pheromone gland of the female moth was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11–16:Ac), (Z)-11-hexadecenal (Z11–16:Ald), and (Z)-11-hexadecenol (Z11–16:OH) were identified as the probable sex pheromone components. The electroantennogram (EAG) bioassay confirmed the results from the chemical analysis. Field bioassays conducted in the late summer and fall in Quanwei, Sichuan, China, showed that the synthetic chemical blend of Z11–16:Ac, Z11–16:Ald, and Z11–16:OH was highly attractive to male T. cretacea moths, and none of the three components was attractive by itself. All three components were necessary and the ratio of the three was critical. The highest number of male moths was captured when the ratio of Z11–16:Ac: Z11–16:Ald:Z11–16:OH was 10:10:1 at a dosage per lure of 200 μg Z11–16:Ac. The binary mixture of 200 μg Z11–16:Ac and 25 μg Z11–16:OH captured a number of Nymphicula mesorphna (10.3 ± 4.4). The results indicate that traps with synthetic pheromone lures can be used to monitor jasmine bud borer populations in the field and potentially to control this pest.