Identification of Δ6‐unsaturated, monoenyl type I pheromone compounds from the cashew stem borer Anthistarcha binocularis (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

BACKGROUND The cashew stem borer Anthistarcha binocularis (Meyrick) is a major pest in cashew orchards in Brazil. The damage caused by the larvae results in economic losses, and the available chemical control is not suitable because of the endophytic nature of A. binocularis. The identification of the A. binocularis sex pheromone could provide novel applications for the detection and monitoring of this species. RESULTS Two compounds from female sex gland extracts elicited electrophysiological responses on male antennae. They were identified as dodec‐6‐en‐1‐ol and dodec‐6‐en‐1‐yl acetate by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. E/Z stereoisomers of both compounds were synthesized, and the electroantennograms for the synthetic compounds showed the strongest responses for the (E)‐stereoisomers of the alcohol and acetate. In a field trial, the E6‐12:OH/E6‐12:OAc mixture attracted male A. binocularis, whereas the Z6‐12:OH/Z6‐12:OAc mixture attracted no specimens. CONCLUSIONS The bioactive compounds from the sex pheromone of A. binocularis have been identified as a mixture of two previously unidentified pheromone compounds: E6‐12:OH and E6‐12:OAc. The mixture of both compounds was attractive to males in preliminary field experiments, and this study is the first report of Δ6‐unsaturated monoenyl pheromone compounds in Lepidoptera. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry The stem borer Anthistarcha binocularis is a major pest in cashew orchards in Brazil. The sex pheromone has been identified as a blend of two previously unidentified pheromone compounds.