Electroantennogram Responses of Both Sexes of Grape Root Borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) to Synthetic Female Sex Pheromone

The effect of mating status and sex on antennal response to sex pheromone components was tested in the grape root borer, Vitacea polistiformis (Harris). The grape root borer pheromone is a 99:1 blend of (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate (EZ) and (Z,Z)-3,13octadecadien-1-ol acetate (ZZ). Antennae of both virgin male and female moths exhibited similar doseÐresponse patterns, with a threshold dosage of 1 mg of the EZ:ZZ blend on Þlter paper. Four treatmentswere tested at a dose of 5 mg onÞlter paper: EZ,ZZ, a blendof 99:1EZ:ZZ, and the alcohol (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadien-1-ol (EZ-OH). Male antennae responded signiÞcantly to all compounds, regardless of mating status. Virgin female antennae responded signiÞcantly to all compounds, although their responses were signiÞcantly lower than the responses of male antennae. However, female antennae were relatively more responsive to EZ-OH than male antennae. Mated female antennae responded signiÞcantly to EZ and 99:1 EZ:ZZ. Pheromone detection by females has considerable implications to mating disruption strategies.