RESUMO
The chemistry of the oak leaf roller sex pheromone is shown by means of microozonolysis and computerized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to be dominated by an approximate 70 to 30 ratio of E- and Z-11-tetradecenyl acetates. Tetradecenyl acetates are undetectable in highly purified oak leaf, apple leaf, and corn extracts analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. These results reflect negatively on previous reports and on the hypothesis that plant components might govern insect chemical communication systems.
Assuntos
Acetatos/análise , Insetos/análise , Feromônios/análise , Plantas/análise , Atrativos Sexuais/análise , Animais , Cromatografia Gasosa , Dieta , Feminino , Espectrometria de Massas , Atrativos Sexuais/biossínteseRESUMO
Compounds identified as sex attractant pheromones in a number of phytophagous insects were found in a variety of host plants. These agents vary in chemical composition in different plant species, which suggests that dietary factors may provide an evolutionary mechanism for diversification of certain insect species. A theoretical framework to explain this phenomenon is postulated on the basis of experiments with the oak leaf roller moth.