The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

John R McLaughlin

James H Tumlinson, Iii

David A Carlson

Philip E Sonnet

Paul L Guss

Robert E Doolittle

Tatsuji Chuman

Paul L Guss, Deceased

A pheromonal compound produced by the banded cucumber beetle has been identified as 6,12-dimethylpentadecan-2-one. Both the synthetically prepared racemic compound and the purified natural pheromone elicited responses by banded cucumber males in field tests. By attracting adult beetles to field traps, this compound is a useful tool for the monitoring and controlling of this major agricultural pest.

6,12-dimethylpentadecan-2-one and its use in monitoring and controlling

Novel diolefin insect pheromone mimics are used to disrupt the sexual communication between insects when applied to an agricultural area in behaviorally effective amounts as follows: (Z)-1,12-heptadecadiene used for Heliothis zea Boddie; (Z)-15-methyl-1,9-heptadecadiene used for Trogoderma variable; (E)-15-methyl-1,9-heptadecadiene used for Trogoderma glabrum; and (Z,Z)-1,12,14-heptadecatriene used for Amyelois transitella.

Novel diolefin pheromone mimics as disruptants of sexual communication

A pheromonal compound produced by the southern corn rootworm has been identified as 10-methyl-2-tridecanone (10-M-2-T) having the structural formula: ##STR1## The synthetic R-enantiomer of 10-M-2-T demonstrates activity toward the southern corn rootworm comparable to its natural counterpart, whereas the synthetic racemic mixture is characterized by approximately half the activity for a given amount. Related diabroticites such as the western spotted cucumber beetle also respond to the synthetic compounds. By attracting adult beetles to field traps, 10-M-2-T is a useful tool for the monitoring and control of these major agricultural pests.

Synthetic pheromone 10-methyl-2-tridecanone and its use in controlling

Novel diolefin insect pheromone mimics are used to disrupt the sexual communication between insects when applied to an agricultural area in behaviorally effective amounts as follows: (Z)-1,12-heptadecadiene used for Heliothis zea Boddie; (Z)-15-methyl-1,9-heptadecadiene used for Trogoderma variabile; (E)-15-methyl-1,9-heptadecadiene used for Trogoderma glabrum; and (Z,Z)-1,12,14-heptadecatriene used for Amyelois transitella.

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Gainesville, FL, United States of America

John R McLaughlin