Female sex pheromone polymorphism in adzuki bean borer, Ostrinia scapulalis, is similar to that in European corn borer, O. nubilalis.

ABSTRACT

Individual analysis of the female sex pheromone of the adzuki bean borer, Ostrinia scapulalis, has shown that the sex pheromone of this species comprised (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (E11-14OAc) and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14OAc) at variable blend ratios. The pheromone blend could be tentatively categorized into three types with respect to the proportion of E11-14OAc E type (94-100%, median 99.2%), Z type (0-16%, median 3.0%), and intermediate type (I type, 48-85%, median 63.7%). In addition to the identity of components, the blend ratios in the three types were similar to those of the E strain, Z strain, and hybrid of the European corn borer, O. nubilalis, respectively. This finding suggests that two closely related but morphologically distinct species, O. scapulalis and O. nubilalis, share almost the same sex pheromone communication systems. The significance of this similarity in the two sibling species is discussed.