Sex pheromone of horse-chestnut leafminer Cameraria ohridella and its use in a pheromone-based monitoring system

Gas chromatography combined with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD), electroantennography (EAG), and wind-tunnel and field experiments were used to reinvestigate the composition of Cameraria ohridella (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae, Lithocolletinae) sex pheromone. The GC-EAD experiments showed one EAD-active area corresponding to the major pheromone component, (8E, 10Z)-tetradeca-8,10-dienal. The EAG experiments proved that (9E)-tetracedecenal and stereoisomers of (8E, 10Z)-tetradeca-8,10-dienal exhibited significant electrophysiological activity and could, therefore, be considered as possible minor pheromone components. However, wind-tunnel and field experiments demonstrated that none of these compounds affect the efficacy of the main pheromone component. A monitoring system based on (8E, 10Z) tetradeca-8,10-dienal was developed and used to study the flight activity of C. ohridella.