The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

Martin Jacobson

Everett R Mitchell

Alfred H Baumhover

Susumu Nakagawa

Kiichi Ohinata

Erythro-9,10-Dihydroxyoctadecan-1-ol acetate, a compound isolated in low yield from tung oil, was synthesized in high yield and found to have excellent potential as a boll weevil feeding deterrent when applied to cotton plants.

Erythro-9,10-Dihydroxyoctadecan-1-ol acetate a boll weevil anti-feedant

An anti-feedant is applied to cotton plants to deter boll weevils from puncturing the cotton bolls. The anti-feedant is the methyl ester of .alpha.-eleostearic acid. The material may be applied by spraying in dilute solution. The ester is obtained in high yield by saponification of tung oil followed by solvent extraction and crystallization of the acid, and subsequent esterification with methyl alcohol.

Anti-feedant for boll weevils

A method for attracting male Mediterranean fruit flies is described. The attractant substance is methyl (E)-6-nonenoate and it may be used alone or in combination with (E)-6-nonen-1-ol and mixtures of fatty acids to enhance its activity and longevity.

Attractant for male Mediterranean fruit fly

(Z)-9-Tetradecen-1-ol formate [(Z)-9-TDF], a chemical of nonbiological origin, was prepared and found to have excellent potential as an insect control agent for the corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie) and tobacco budworm, H. virescens (F.). Mating of H. zea and H. Virescens moths exposed in the field to an atmosphere permeated with (Z)-9-TDF was greatly reduced. The chemical can be used alone to inhibit mating of H. zea or H. virescens or it can be dispensed together with other mating inhibitors to suppress mating in several pest species simultaneously.

Growing community of inventors

Silver Spring, MD, United States of America

Martin Jacobson