Abstract: The major sex pheromone components of Tyta luctuosa, a potential biological control agent for field bindweed, were extracted, identified, and tested with male moths in a wind tunnel. Two compounds, (Z)-9-tetradecenal and (Z)-11-hexadecenal, were identified as the major female sex pheromone components from the pheromone gland extracts and airborne emissions from the calling females. Although the total amount of the two compounds in the extracts varied (22～167 ng, mean 75±56 ng) among individuals, the ratio of (Z)-9-tetradecenal to (Z)-11-hexadecenal was relatively constant at 0.3±0.15. The emission rate and the ratio also varied among individuals. Calling females released an average of 94 ng of (Z)-9-tetradecenal and 45 ng of (Z)-11-hexadecenal per hour with a mean ratio of 2.2. in wind tunnel tests, 48% of males completed upwind flight and touched the stimulus source in response to the synthetic pheromone blend of 0.4 μg of (Z)-9-tetradecenal and 2 μg of (Z)-11-hexadecenal, compared with 62% and 44% in response to the calling females and pheromone gland extracts, respectively.

Key words: Tyta luctuosa, sex pheromone, field bindweed, biological control