Sex Pheromone of the Saturniid Moth Hemileuca nevadensis from Southern California

The major and possibly only component of the sex attractant pheromone of the moth Hemileuca nevadensis (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) from southern California was determined to be ( E 10, Z 12)-hexadecadienal ( E 10, Z 12-16:Ald). Detectable quantities of the analogs ( E 10, Z 12)-hexadecadien-1-yl acetate ( E 10, Z 12-16:Ac) and ( E 10, Z 12)-hexadecadien-1-ol ( E 10, Z 12-16:OH) were also present in solvent extracts of sex pheromone glands, and stimulated male antennae in coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram detector (GC-EAD) assays. GC-EAD traces from solid phase microextraction (SPME) wipe samples of sex pheromone glands of calling females confirmed the presence of E 10, Z 12-16:Ald and traces of E 10, Z 12-16:OH on the gland surface, but E 10, Z 12-16:Ac was not detected. Despite evidence for the presence of all three compounds in extracts, behavioral responses to synthetic compounds in the field suggested that only E 10, Z 12-16:Ald is required for optimal attraction.