Identification of sex pheromone chemistry, synthesis and laboratory and field male trapping in Iranian population of fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)

Articles in Press
Authors
Malahat Mojarab-Mahboubkar
Jalal Jalali Sendi
Nosrat O. Mahmoodi
University of Guilan
Abstract
The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury), is a globally invasive polyphagous defoliator, recognized as a destructive pest of both agricultural and non-agricultural plants. To mitigate its expanding populations, diverse control strategies have been explored across invaded regions. However, many approaches remain confined to laboratory settings, necessitating field validation to assess their practical efficacy. Given the species-specific activity and environmentally benign nature of sex pheromones, this study aimed to identify and characterize sex pheromone compounds in H. cunea as a potential foundation for sustainable pest management. The pheromone glands of H. cunea virgin females were dissected and extracted in hexane, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the glandular extracts. Four compounds were identified as putative sex pheromone components: (Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester, (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester, and octadecanoic acid methyl ester. The identified compounds represent preliminary candidates for the sex pheromone of the Iranian population of H. cunea, serving as a foundation for pheromone-mediated control strategies. Wind tunnel bioassays demonstrated that a synthetic quaternary blend of the identified compounds, formulated in a 4:2:2:3 ratio, elicited significant attraction in male H. cunea. Field trials corroborated these findings, with the optimized blend effectively luring males under natural conditions. The identification of this attractive sex pheromone blend enables the development of targeted strategies for monitoring and suppressing H. cunea populations, offering a promising tool for integrated pest management (IPM) programs.

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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 16 September 2025