Behavior and survival of western spruce budworm,Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, exposed to an ω-fluorinated pheromone analogue.

ω-Fluorinated (E)-11-tetradecenal (14F-E11-14: Al) was synthesized using 1,10-decanediol as a starting compound. Male and female western spruce budworm,Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, moths exposed to 14F-E11-14: Al had LC50s (CI) of 12.0 (7.4-19.5) µg and 41.7 (22.7-76.2) µg, respectively. Antennectomized moths had lower mortality rates than normal moths. 14F-E11-14:Al elicited slightly lower amplitudes than 97:3 (E/Z)-11-tetradecenal (E/Z11-14:Al) in electroantennogram studies, but the lag or recovery period following excitation by 14F-E11-14:Al was much lower than forE/Z11-14:Al at the same concentrations. 14F-E11-14:Al andE11-14:Al evoked similar responses from male moths in wind-tunnel evaluations but neither compound was as effective as a virgin female in stimulating moths to fly upwind to contact the lure.