Evidence for Origin of Insect Sex Pheromones: Presence in Food Plants

Abstract

Compounds identified as sex attractant pheromones in a number of phytophagous insects were found in a variety of host plants. These agents vary in chemical composition in different plant species, which suggests that dietary factors may provide an evolutionary mechanism for diversification of certain insect species. A theoretical framework to explain this phenomenon is postulated on the basis of experiments with the oak leaf roller moth.

Midgut tissue of male pine engraver, Ips pini, synthesizes monoterpenoid pheromone component ipsdienol de novo

“…A role for the diet in the origin of lepidopteran pheromones was once considered (Hendry et al 1975;Hendry 1976) and rejected (Miller et al 1976), and a current review of research on pheromone biosynthesis concludes that most insects produce pheromone components de novo (Tillman et al 1999). Until recently, however, dietary precursors played a prominent role in our understanding of bark beetle pheromone production, particu-81 Fig.…”

Insect Pheromones: A Critical Review of Recent Advances in Their Chemistry, Biology, and Application

“…The suggestion that the sex pheromone composition of the oak leaf roller was dependent to a large extent on diet was made (82,475,476) and refuted (477,478). It is now generally accepted that the sex pheromone of this tortricid moth species is a specific blend (67: 33) of (E)-ll-and (Z)-ll-tetradecenyl acetates (477).…”

“…Recently AUDEMARD et al (584) reported a successful mating disruption test against a natural population of the codling moth: "An attempt at controlling the codling moth (Laspeyresia pomonella) was made with the synthetic sex pheromone 8E,lOE-dodecadien-1-01 (475) in 1976 in a commercial apple orchard of 0.75 ha in Avignon. The technique of 'male disruption' was being used.…”

Reinvestigation of Oak Leaf Roller Sex Pheromone Components and the Hypothesis That They Vary with Diet

“…We have studied the pheromone systems of many tortricid species, including a number in the genus Archips, and have found them all, so far, to consist of two to four pheromone components. Reports (2)(3)(4) on the sex pheromone of the oak leaf roller, Archips semiferanus, however, suggested that sexual communication in this tortricid differs decidedly from that in the others by involving at least 21 j;omponents. Moreover, the results of the previous A. semiferanus studies have led to a proposal of startling new concepts in insect chemical communication and evolutionary biology that demand evaluation.…”

“…Moreover, the results of the previous A. semiferanus studies have led to a proposal of startling new concepts in insect chemical communication and evolutionary biology that demand evaluation. In essence, a recent report (2) indicated that slight changes in host plant constituents would be reflected in corresponding changes in the sex pheromone composition. More specifically, it was suggested that oak leaf roller moth females reared on one species of oak would emit a sex pheromone different from those produced by females reared on other species of oak.…”