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Pheromone communication channels in tortricid moths: lower specificity of alcohol vs. acetate geometric isomer blends

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

P. Witzgall ,
P. Trematerra ,
I. Liblikas ,
M. Bengtsson  and
C.R. Unelius
P. Witzgall*
Affiliation:
Chemical Ecology Group, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 230 53Alnarp, Sweden
P. Trematerra
Affiliation:
Department of Animal, Plant and Environmental Science, University of Molise, 86 100Campobasso, Italy
I. Liblikas
Affiliation:
School of Pure and Applied Natural Sciences, University of Kalmar, 391 82Kalmar, Sweden
M. Bengtsson
Affiliation:
Chemical Ecology Group, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 230 53Alnarp, Sweden
C.R. Unelius
Affiliation:
School of Pure and Applied Natural Sciences, University of Kalmar, 391 82Kalmar, Sweden
*
*Author for correspondence Fax: +46-40-461991 E-mail: peter.witzgall@ltj.slu.se
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Abstract

Discrimination of conspecific and heterospecific signals is a key element in the evolution of specific mate recognition systems. Lepidopteran pheromone signals are typically composed of several compounds that synergize attraction of conspecific and inhibit attraction of heterospecific males. Blends convey specificity, but not their single components, that are typically shared by several species. Many sex pheromones are blends of geometric or positional isomers of straight-chain acetates, while species-specific blends of analogous alcohols have not been described. We have, therefore, studied the attraction of tortricid moths to the geometric isomers (E,E)-, (E,Z)-, (Z,E)- and (Z,Z)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol. Only one species responding to these alcohols seemed to be attracted to a blend of two isomers, while most species are attracted to only one alcohol isomer. Lack of a pronounced synergist or antagonist effect of the other geometric isomers explains the lack of specific attraction to isomer blends and reduces accordingly the number of specific communication signals composed of these alcohols. In comparison, many more species respond to the analogous (E,E)-, (E,Z)-, (Z,E)- and (Z,Z)-8,10-dodecadienyl acetates and their binary blends. The acetate isomers all play a behavioural role, either as attractants, attraction synergists or antagonists, and thus promote specific communication with acetate blends. Male moths seem to discriminate the acetate isomers with greater precision than the analogous alcohols. It is proposed that discrimination is facilitated by steric differences between the four acetate isomers, as compared to the more uniform steric properties of the alcohols.

Keywords

sex pheromonesynergistantagonistmate recognitionreproductive isolationTortricidaeLepidoptera
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 100 , Issue 2 , April 2010 , pp. 225 - 230
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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