Behavioral responses of malePeriplaneta americana to periplanone B, a synthetic component of the female sex pheromone.

Bioassays were performed on malePeriplaneta americana L. using concentrations of (±)-periplanone B of 10(-9)-10(-3) μg and a serial dilution of natural female sex pheromone extract. Synthetic (±)-periplanone B stimulated the complete repertoire of behavior released by the extract: increased rate of locomotion, upwind orientation, and the wingraising component of courtship display. Quantitative behavioral comparisons of the activity of natural extracts prepared by this and other laboratories are possible by the standardization of the stimulus in terms of μg of (±)-periplanone B applied per assay.