Canadian Forest Service Publications
3,13-Dimethylheptadecane: major sex pheromone component of the western false hemlock looper, Nepytia freemani Munroe (Lepidoptera:geometridae) 1993. Gries, G.; King, G.G.S.; Gries, R.; Wimalaratne, P.D.C.; Gray, T.G.; Shepherd, R.F.; Jianxiong Li; Slessor, K.N.; Khaskin, G. Journal of Chemical Ecology 19(7): 1501-1510.
Available from: Pacific Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 3305
3,13-Dimethylheptadecane (3,13-dime-17Hy) is the major sex pheromone component of the western false hemlock looper (WFHL), Nepytia freemani Munroe. It was identified in extracts of female pheromone glands be coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and coupled GC-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Traps baited with 100 micrograms of 3,13-dime-17Hy attracted large numbers of male WFHL. Of five additional candidate pheromone dimethylated hydrocarbons, only 3,13-dimethylhexadecane attracted male WFHL. However, neither 3,13-dime-16Hy nor the other four compounds enhanced attraction to 3,13-dime-17Hy when tested in binary or ternary combination at respective ratios of 100: 10, 100: 1, or 100: 1 : 1. Identification of the complete WFHL sex pheromone requires structural elucidation of all 12 EAD-active components in gland extracts, determination of their chirality, and field testing of antennally active isomers in appropriate combinations and ratios. Stereoisomeric 3,13-17Hy as trap bait may already be used to monitor WFHL populations.
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