Pheromone identification of the cedar shoot moth Dichelia cedricola Diakonoff (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract

The cedar shoot moth, Dichelia cedricola Diakonoff, is considered as an important defoliator of the Lebanese cedars, Cedrus libani in Lebanon and Turkey. A recent outbreak revealed the need for a new tool to monitor the population within an integrated forest health management approach. To achieve this objective, a sex pheromone was identified by using solid phase microextraction (SPME) of calling female head space and female gland extracts, analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The biological activity of the identified components was assessed by field trapping in the Lebanese cedar forests. (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-ol were identified as the sex pheromone components of D. cedricola. The field studies showed that (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-ol (65:35) is an efficient formulation. The chemical composition is discussed in the view of biosystematics within Archipini tribe. These findings will contribute to the implementation of an integrated management program using the pheromone of D. cedricola and the assessment of the pest presence or absence in the cedar forest ecosystems of the Mediterranean regions. © 2015 Société entomologique de France.