Work

Isolation and Identification of the Sex Pheromone of Evergestis extimalis Scopoli (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In Qinghai Province, Evergestis extimalis is an important pest of spring rape and is primarily controlled using chemical pesticides. Sex pheromones offer an alternative method for pest management in relatively non-polluted environments. In this study, the sex of E. extimalis pupae was identified, followed by isolation and structural characterization of female pheromone components using GC-EAD and GC-MS. A field attraction assay was then performed. The results showed that female pupae possess a longitudinal crack on the upper central ventral surface of the eighth abdominal segment, which connects the seventh and ninth abdominal segments. The two sides of this crack are open and flat, without protruding semicircles. Male pupae lack this longitudinal crack on the eighth abdominal segment but display one on the central ninth ventral segment, accompanied by semicircular tubercles on each side. The primary component extracted from female sex glands was identified as E11-14Ac. In field trials, E11-14 displayed a stronger attractive effect on E. extimalis males than the other tested attractants. In conclusion, E11-14Ac was preliminarily identified as the main component of the sex pheromone of E. extimalis, providing a foundation for its control using sex pheromones.

Source: Insects

DOI: 10.3390/insects17010064

Authors: Mingang Qin, Youhua Ma, Youpeng Lai, Siyu Liu, Gui Zhang

Institution: Qinghai University

Language: English

Topic: Insect Pheromone Research and Control

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funder: Qinghai Provincial Department of Science and Technology