Field and electroantennogram responses of the red-headed pine sawfly,Neodiprion lecontei (Fitch), to optical isomers of sawfly sex pheromones.

Sawfly sex pheromones, the acetate and propionate esters of 3,7-dimethylpentadecan-2-ol, were field tested for activity towardNeodiprion lecontei (Fitch). Only the acetate form of the 2S,3S,7S isomer was active. Field catch decreased with the addition of the 2S,3R,7(R/S) acetate isomer sample. Electroantennogram recordings showed a positive correlation between response and degree to which the chirality of each isomer resembled the attractive isomer.