Redbanded leaf roller

Figure 3.6 Biosynthetic pathways for producing the intermediate CoA derivatives of the pheromone blend of the redbanded leaf roller moth, Argyrotaenia velutinana. The CoA derivatives followed by a superscript number in parentheses are reduced to an alcohol and acetylated to form the acetate esters that make up the pheromone blend. The superscript numbers indicate the approximate ratio of components found in the pheromone gland (Bjostad et al., 1985).

The ability of male moths to perceive mixtures of geometric isomers with extraordinary acuity was further documented in an investigation of the responses of males of the redbanded leaf-roller and two populations of the European cornborer to isomers of 11-tetradecenyl acetate (21). Redbanded leafroller males were essentially unresponsive to pure preparations of their reported sex pheromone, (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate, but were strongly attracted to lures containing up to 8% of the (E)-isomer. Similarly, European cornborer males from Iowa responded maximally when 4% of the (E)-isomer was added to the (Z)-isomer, whereas the New York population was attracted to an isomeric mixture containing about 4% of the (Z )-isomer. Enhanced attraction by a small proportion of the opposite geometric isomer was also demonstrated with males of the oriental fruit moth,... 

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