Identification of Components of the Sex Pheromone of the Cotton Bollworm (Heliothis armigera) in Thailand

Abstract

The components of the sex pheromone extracted from virgin females of cotton bollworm (Heliothis armigera Hubner) were studied in Thailand between July – November 1988. The study was conducted by rearing cotton bollworm larvae on an artificial diet until reaching the adult stage. Three day old adults were kept under scot phase for periods of 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours. The rectal glands of the virgin female moths were then removed and extracted in 1 ml redistilled hexane for 10 minutes. The extract was transferred 20 ml glass vials which were sealed treflon. The pheromone components were identified at the Institute of Plant Protection in Israel. The major component was found to be Z-11-HDAL; the minor components were Z-9-HDAL and Z-11-HDOL