Research conducted over the past two to three years has established a connection between eastern tent caterpillars (ETC) and Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome, a disease that was first recognized in 2001. The sudden promotion of this insect from a relatively benign status to one that poses a periodic threat to a key industry of Kentucky has prompted us to begin to explore the potential of sex pheromones for monitoring and control of ETC populations. We determined the blend ratio of (E,Z)-5,7-dodecadienal (ETC:Ald) and (E,Z)-5,7-dodecadienol (ETC:OH) in gland extracts. During the calling period female sex pheromone glands contain approximately a 3:1 blend of ETC:Ald and ETC:OH. We evaluated the response of males to different blend ratios of these two compounds in both the wind tunnel and in field trapping. Males respond to a wide range of blends of these two compounds, but optimal attraction was seen with a 5:1 blend of ETC:Ald and ETC:OH.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Lasiocampidae Malacosoma americanum (Eastern tent caterpillar)
Keywords: sex pheromone gland, sex attractant
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