El-Sayed Ashraf M, Gibb A R
Canterbury Research Centre, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Lincoln, 8152, New Zealand.
, 46 Hay Street, Bromley, Christchurch, 8062, New Zealand.
J Chem Ecol. 2025 Jan 22;51(1):4. doi: 10.1007/s10886-025-01564-8.
The identification of sex pheromones in native New Zealand moths has been limited, largely due to their minimal pest impact on agricultural ecosystems. The kōwhai moth, Uresiphita polygonalis maorialis, a native crambid, is known for its herbivory on Sophora spp. and Lupinus arboreus leaves. Understanding the chemical ecology of this species is essential for studying its behavior, population dynamics, and ecological interactions. In this study, the female sex pheromone of U. polygonalis maorialis was analyzed using coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD). This approach identified four antennally active compounds in the female gland extracts. Subsequent gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and chemical derivatization revealed these compounds to be tetradecyl acetate (14:Ac), (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (E11-14:Ac), (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:Ac), and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16:Ac). Field trapping experiments evaluated various combinations of these four EAD-active compounds and (E)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (E11-16:Ac). Results indicated that traps baited with blends containing E11-14:Ac, Z11-14:Ac, and Z11-16:Ac captured significantly more males compared to unbaited delta traps. A blend ratio of 144:84:72 µg (E11-14:Ac: Z11-14:Ac: Z11-16:Ac) proved the most effective, capturing the highest number of males. Male captures were recorded from late November to late February, peaking in late December, suggesting a univoltine population in Canterbury. Among the three tested doses, the 300 µg and 1000 µg doses of the three-component blend were the most effective. The identification of the sex pheromone components of U. polygonalis maorialis provides a valuable tool for monitoring this species, contributing to a deeper understanding of its population densities and distribution within its native range. It also offers insights into the evolutionary development of pheromone communication within the genus, shedding light on species divergence and adaptation.
新西兰本土蛾类性信息素的鉴定工作一直较为有限，这主要是因为它们对农业生态系统造成的虫害影响极小。科怀蛾（Uresiphita polygonalis maorialis）是新西兰本土的一种草螟科昆虫，以取食槐属植物和羽扇豆的叶子而闻名。了解该物种的化学生态对于研究其行为、种群动态和生态相互作用至关重要。在本研究中，采用气相色谱 - 触角电位检测联用技术（GC - EAD）对科怀蛾的雌性性信息素进行了分析。该方法在雌性腺体提取物中鉴定出了四种对触角有活性的化合物。随后的气相色谱 - 质谱联用技术（GC - MS）和化学衍生化分析表明，这些化合物分别为乙酸十四酯（14:Ac）、（E）-11 - 十四碳烯乙酸酯（E11 - 14:Ac）、（Z）-11 - 十四碳烯乙酸酯（Z11 - 14:Ac）和（Z）-11 - 十六碳烯乙酸酯（Z11 - 16:Ac）。田间诱捕实验评估了这四种EAD活性化合物与（E）-11 - 十六碳烯乙酸酯（E11 - 16:Ac）的各种组合。结果表明，与未设诱饵的三角诱捕器相比，用含有E11 - 14:Ac、Z11 - 14:Ac和Z11 - 16:Ac的混合物诱饵的诱捕器捕获的雄性蛾显著更多。144:84:72微克（E11 - 14:Ac:Z11 - 14:Ac:Z11 - 16:Ac）的混合比例被证明是最有效的，捕获的雄性蛾数量最多。从11月下旬到2月下旬都记录到了雄性蛾的捕获情况，12月下旬达到峰值，这表明坎特伯雷地区的种群为一年一代。在三种测试剂量中，300微克和1000微克剂量的三组分混合物最为有效。科怀蛾性信息素成分的鉴定为监测该物种提供了一种有价值的工具，有助于更深入地了解其在原生范围内的种群密度和分布情况。它还为该属内性信息素通讯的进化发展提供了见解，有助于揭示物种分化和适应性。
