Abstract:  【Aim】 This study aims to identify the structure of active components of sex pheromone of female moths of Micromelalopha sieversi. 【Methods】 The sex pheromone was extracted from sex glands of virgin female moths of M. sieversi by n-hexane. The active ingredient was located by gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). The additive derivative was obtained by the reaction of the extract from sex glands of virgin female moths with 4-methyl-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3,5(4H)-dione (MTAD). The characteristic ions of the extract and additive derivative were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 【Results】 The GC-EAD results indicated that the antenna of male moth of M. sieversi showed sensitive reaction to one component of the extract from sex glands of virgin female moths. Based on the GC-MS data of the extract and additive derivative, the active component of sex pheromone was identified as 13,15-octadecadienal. 【Conclusion】 The identified planar structure of the active component of sex pheromone of female moths of M. sieversi is 13,15-octadecadienal, but the stereoscopic configuration of conjugated double bonds needs to be further identified through synthesizing more standard compounds. This study provides the direction in screening synthetic pheromone candidates and establishes the foundation for determining the sex pheromone structure of female moth of M. sieversi.

Key words: Micromelalopha sieversi, sex pheromones, active component, MTAD derivative, structural identification, gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)