Stored product pest Nemapogon variatella (Clemens): Identification of sex pheromone, putative antagonist and mitotype characterization

Nemapogon variatella (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) is a worldwide widespread stored product pest that damages grain, dried fruits and mushrooms. The most powerful and environmentally friendly tool for insect pest monitoring and control is pheromone application. In our study, we revealed for the first time that the females of N. variatella release (3 Z ,13 Z )‐octadecadien‐1‐ol – a single compound that activates olfactory receptors in the antenna of conspecific males. These data allow to assign this compound, which has been known as an attractant for males only, to the category of sex pheromones of N. variatella moths. Males' olfactory system is sensitive not only to the sex pheromone compound but also to (3 E ,13 Z )‐octadecadien‐1‐ol as well. (3 E ,13 Z )‐octadecadien‐1‐ol is attributed to putative pheromone antagonists. During the analysis of genetic diversity, six mitotypes of N. variatella CO1‐5′ were detected and preliminary named Mit1–Mit6. The obtained high haplotype diversity ( Hd = 0.796) and low nucleotide diversity ( Pi = 0.007) suggest that this species may have undergone a recent population expansion.