Evaluation of the synthetic major component of the sex pheromone of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

In wind-tunnel bioassays, dispensers loaded with 1 microg of the synthetic major component (3E,8Z, 11Z)-3,8,11-tetradecatrienyl acetate (TDTA) of the sex pheromone emitted by Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) females were found to be highly attractive to conspecific males. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of five trap designs. The best trap, baited with 100 microg of the synthetic sex pheromone caught on average 1,200 males per trap per night, while those baited with virgin females caught only 201 males. The male response to this pheromone is restricted to the same early-morning time window during which females exhibit calling behavior. The high biological activity of the synthetic pheromone suggests that it could be useful for pest monitoring and in mating disruption.