Sex attractants and sex pheromone components of noctuid mothsEuclidea cuspidea,Caenurgina distincta, and geometrid mothEupithecia annulata.

Pheromone components and sex attractant blends consisting of 3Z,6Z,9Z-triene hydrocarbons and racemic and chiral forms of3Z,6Z-cis-9, 10-epoxydienes have been elucidated for two noctuid and one geometrid moth species. MaleEuclidea cuspidea moths were attracted to blends of 3Z,6Z,9Z-heneicosatriene (3Z,6Z,9Z-21∶H) with 3Z,6Z-cis-9,10-epoxyheneicosadiene (3Z,6Z-cis-9,10-epoxy-21∶H). In addition to these compounds, 3Z,6Z,9Z-20∶H, and two regioisomeric C21 epoxides were tentatively identified in pheromone gland extracts.Caenurgina distincta moths were attracted by an 8∶∶1 blend of 3Z,6Z,9Z-20∶H with3Z,6Z-cis- 9,10-epoxy-20∶H.Eupithecia annulata moths were attracted by either 3Z,6Z-cis-9,10-epoxy-20∶H or 3Z,6Z-cis-9,10-epoxy-21∶H, and by the 95,10R enantiomer of each epoxide. 3Z,6Z,9Z-21∶H and 3Z,6Z-cis-9,10-epoxy-21∶H were tentatively identified from pheromone glands. Pheromone components were identified by a combination of coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and field bioassays.