Behavioural and electrophysiological responses of Achaea janata Linn. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) males to synthetic female-produced sex pheromone components

Abstract

The synthetic compounds, viz., heneicosane; (Z6, Z9)-6, 9 heneicosadiene; (Z3, Z6, Z9) -3, 6, 9 heneicosatriene; and (Z9, Z12)-9, 12 octadecadienal, the female produced sex pheromone components of Achaea janata L. were tested for their biologoical activity using electroantennogram (EAG) and wind tunnel. EAG values produced by individual components and different blend ratios ranged from 0.45 to 1.50 mv. Among the individual components, saturated alkane heneicosane produced lowest EAG amplitude and heneicosatriede produced the highest amplitude. The behavioural effects produced in male insects by the individual and diferent combinations of synthetic components in wind tunnel experiments indicated that compound 3 was the principal component for the attraction of male A. janata towards the female. Four different scores were given for the behaviour of males in wind tunnel towards the pheromone source. None of the synthetic components was attractive when used alone as the source. Amongst different blends tested (I to IV), blend I was the most effective in eliciting behavioural responses in male insects and consists of nearly the natural blend. The identified natural blend was heneicosane, heneicosadiene, heneicosatriene and octadecadienal in 1.0: 1.0:60-70:10 ratio, respectively.