Behavioral responses of maleHeliothis virescens in a sustained-flight tunnel to combinations of seven compounds identified from female sex pheromone glands.

Each of the seven compounds that have been identified from femaleHeliothis virescens sex pheromone glands was examined for its ability to elicit sexual responses from male moths in a flight tunnel. The two compounds initially described as pheromone components, (itZ)-11-hexadecenal and (itZ)-9-tetradecenal, were necessary for behavioral activity to occur. Of the remaining five compounds, hexadecanal was most consistent in elevating behavioral activity of males when it was added to treatments. Live, calling females elicited greater sexual activity from males than did the 7-compound mixture on rubber septa.