Tussock moths

Posticlure [(6Z,9Z,llS,12S)-ll,12-epoxy-6,9-henicosadiene, 14] is the female sex pheromone of the tussock moth, Orgyia postica. Wakamura s first synthesis of 14 was achieved by employing Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, and the final product was of 59% ee [38]. Mori prepared 14 of high purity as shown in Scheme 25 basing on asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) [39]. Kumar also published an AD-based synthesis of 14 [40], which was more lengthy and less efficient than Mori s [39]. 

From fir (Abies sp., Pseudotsuga menziesii) forest sprayed aerially with 140 or 280 mg/ha to control Douglas-fir tussock moth effects evaluated in year of spraying and 1 year later... 

Two unsaturated alcohols, (6, 9-T, 115)-6,9-heneicosadien-l 1-oland (fSZ, 9Z, 1 li )-6,9-heneicosadien-l l-ol, were identified as the female sex pheromone components of the tussock moth, Orgyia detrita Guerin-Meneville (Lepidoptera Lymantriidae). Both of the alcohols in combination, but not singly, attracted male moths. 

The unstaturated ketone, (Z )-6-heneicosen-l l-one, was identified as the only essential sex pheromone component of the whitemarked tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma ].E. Smith (Lepidoptera Lymantriidae). ... 

Arakaki, N., Wakamura, S. and Yasuda, T. (1996). Phoretic egg parasitoid, Telenomus euproctidis (Hymenoptera Scelionidae), uses sex pheromone of tussock moth Euproctis taiwana (Lepidoptera Lymantriidae) as a kairomone. Journal of Chemical Ecology 22 1079-1085. 

DDT, discovered by Dr. Mueller in Switzerland, and used for insect vector control during World War II, quickly found a place in forestry, as well as agriculture. The material proved highly effective in the control of such insects as the spruce budworm, tussock moth, hemlock looper, and many others. It was widely used in the Northeast for control of the introduced Gypsy moth during these early years. The low toxicity of DDT to mammals made it to appear to be an excellent insecticide for forestry use. It was only after subsequent studies revealed the impact on other species that reservations about its use was raised. 

Biological agents such as Bacillus thuringensis, BT, has been coming to the fore as a forest insecticide, as more has been learned about its use. Attention is now being given also to the viruses such as the polyhedrosis virus of the tussock moth. 

Some groups of entomopathogenic viruses are capable of causing severe epizootic diseases in insect populations. We consider these viruses excellent natural pest control agents if the host insects are destructive species. Natural epizootics of viral diseases are known to have terminated outbreaks of major forest pests, such as the nun moth in Europe and the Douglas-fir tussock moth in the United States. 

Shepherd, R.F., Ed. "Operational field trials against the Douglas-fir tussock moth with chemical and biological insecticides" Report BC-X-201, Pacific Forest Research Centre Victoria, B.C., 1980. 

The addition of an allylic group was reported in the synthesis of heneicos-6-en-ll-one, the sex pheromone of the Douglas fir tussock moth.67 This method was compared advantageously to the classical processes employing the toxic tin hydrides, with respect to the rates, yields, and chemoselectivity.68,69 Concerning the stereoselectivity however, no major difference exists between the conventional and sonochemical methods.70,71... 

D Manning, L. A., Foster, S. P, Morris, B.D., Ando, T and Mori, K. (2005). Identification of sex pheromone components of the painted apple moth a tussock moth with a thermally labile pheromone component../. Chem. Ecol., 31, 621-646. 

Gries, G., Clearwater, J., Gries, R Khaskin, G King, S. and Schaefer, P. (1999). Synergistic sex pheromone components of white-spotted tussock moth, Orgyia thyellina. J. Chem. Ecol., 25,1091-1104. 

Grant, G. G., Tracey, A. S. and Hulme, M. (1997). (Z)-6,( >8-I Icneicosadicne-11 -one Synergistic sex pheromone component of Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia pseudotsugata (McDunnough) (Lepidoptera Lymantriidae)../. Chem. Ecol., 23, 19-34. 

Smith, R.G., Daterman, G.E. andDaites, G.D. (1975). Douglas-fir tussock moth Sex pheromone identification and synthesis. Science, 188, 63-64. 

Wakamura, S., Arakaki, N., Yamazawa, H., Nakajima, N Yamamoto, M. and Ando, T. (2002). Identification of epoxyhenicosadiene and novel diepoxy derivatives as sex pheromone components of the clear-winged tussock moth Perina nuda. J. Chem. Ecol., 28,449 167. 

Smith, R.G. (1976). Laboratory and field bioassay of the Douglas-fir tussock moth pheromone, (Z)-6-heneicosen-ll-one. Environ. Entomol., 5,1187-1190. 

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