No abstract

Datana ministra larvae possess a gland situated in the ventral anterior portion of the prothorax. The gland consists of a single sac and is only charged with secretion in the last instar. Its orifice, a simple slit, opens into a transverse invagination of the integument in the cervical margin of the prosternite. The components of the gland have been identified by GC and GCMS and have been shown to be dodecanol, dodecyl acetate, and dodecyl formate. The morphology of the gland and the chemistry of the secretion are discussed in relation to other notodontid larvae which have been investigated. It is conjectured that the secretion is not defensive in nature but may function as a dispersal pheromone.

No abstract

Controlled release formulations are required for the dissemination of behavior-modifying chemicals in insect control strategies. Among the types of formulations that have been used for some time are glass and plastic capillaries. Erratic release rates on field use of such capillaries prompted us to reexamine the release of volatile materials with regard to (1) kinetics of the release, (2) the effect of the vapor-air column above the liquid, and (3) developing a predictive model. Results indicate that the release is not zero order, and that the length of the vapor-air column is a critical factor of the system; a predictive model has been developed that will allow better design of capillary controlled-release formulations.

Levels of benzaldehyde recovered from virginPseudaletia unipuncta (Haw.) males were not influenced by (1) the time hairpencils remained in the solvent (1-72 hr), (2) anesthetization or agitation of males prior to excision of hairpencils, or (3) the time (photophase or scotophase) that hairpencils were excised. Thus the interindividual variability observed is not a methodological artifact. Most males had similar concentrations in both hairpencils, although in some cases only one hairpencil contained pheromone. In one case, a male with partially extruded hairpencils had no benzaldehyde at all. Neither pupal weight nor hairpencil length proved to be reliable indicators of pheromone content.