Raspberry crown borer, Pennisetia marginata (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), is a native North American species and pest of many cane fruits. Using coupled gas chromatographicelectroantennographic detection analyses (GC-EAD) we identified candidate sex pheromone components in pheromone gland extracts and effluvia from calling females. Analysis of gland extracts on a Zebron-5 column revealed four components (A, B, C, and D) that elicited strong responses from male antennae. The two most EAD-active components A and B were hypothesised to be (3E,13Z)octadecadienal [(3E,13Z)-18:Ald] and (3E,13Z)-octadecadienol [(3E,13Z)-18:OH], respectively. Their retention times on other GC columns matched those of authentic standards, thus supporting structural assignments. Synthetic (3E,13Z)-18:Ald, and its GC rearrangement product (2E,13Z)-octadecadienal [(2E,13Z)-18:Ald; component C], also induced antennal responses in GC-EAD analyses of female effluvia. Compounds D in pheromone gland extract, and E and F in female effluvia, elicited EAD responses but could not be identified. In field trapping experiments, (3E,13Z)-18:Ald was the only component that attracted male P. marginata when tested alone. Attractiveness of (3E,13Z)-18:Ald was reduced when combined in binary or ternary blends with any of the other identified components, suggesting one or all may act as pheromone antagonists. In Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada, peak diel attraction of male P. marginata to (3E,13Z)-18:Ald occurred between 16:00 and 18:00 hours Pacific Daylight Time, at temperatures of 21-238C, We conclude that (3E,13Z)-18:Ald is the major pheromone component of P. marginata.

1 (E ,Z )-3,13-Octadecadienal (E 3,Z 13-18:Ald) was recently identified as a sex pheromone component of the raspberry crown borer Pennisetia marginata (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae). Although unstable, this pheromone may have utility for monitoring the seasonal abundance and flight phenology of adult P. marginata, as well as for developing control tactics, such as disorienting mate-seeking males. Experiments conducted in raspberry and blackberry crops tested the effect of lure and trap attributes on captures of male P. marginata. 2 Increasing lure loads (10, 100 or 1000 μg) of E 3,Z 13-18:Ald significantly increased trap captures. 3 Freshly prepared lures were significantly more attractive than lures aged for 2-10 days at room temperature. 4 White wing traps and white delta traps were more effective than green delta or green bucket traps. 5 Trap height in the crop canopy had no effect on the capture of males. 6 When sex pheromone components of three other sesiid moth species were added to E 3,Z 13-18:Ald, the attraction of male P. marginata was reduced and, thus, these components were identified as pheromone antagonists. 7 Pheromone-based mass trapping with 25 wing traps per hectare reduced captures of males in traps baited with a low-dose (10 μg) pheromone lure by 67-87% in 2011.