Cydia pomonella pheromone

The larval aggregation pheromone of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera Olethreutidae), was shown to be a blend of (E)-2-octenal, (E )-2-nonenal, sulcatone and geranyl acetone in combination with either 3-carene and/or three saturated aldehydes (octanal, nonanal, decanal). 

Lofstedt C. and Bengtsson M. (1988) Sex pheromone biosynthesis of (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienol in codling moth Cydia pomonella involves E9 desaturation. J. Chem. Ecol. 14, 903-915. 

The most effective application technique for lepidopteran species is to permeate the atmosphere with synthetic pheromone, and to thereby prevent olfactory communication and mate finding. The mating disruption technique has been successfully applied in Europe to three lepidopteran insects from horticultural crops codling moth Cydia pomonella, and the grape berry moths Eupoecilia ambiguella and Lobesia botrana [132, 133]. 

Recognition of possible synthons in a target molecule is the most important factor to make its synthesis simple or complicated. Let us compare the efficiency and simplicity of three different syntheses of (8 ,10 )-8,10-dodecadien-l-ol (11), the female-produced sex pheromone of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella. This moth is a notorious pest of apple orchards. 

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