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Whole body extracts and air collections from 'Creontiades dilutus' males and females were analyzed to identify the sex pheromone components. The major component, hexyl hexanoate was found in whole body extracts and air collections from both sexes, while the min or component, (E) -2-hexenyl hexanoate, was only present in the female air collections. Field trapping experiments were conducted to determine the attractiveness of either of the single components and various binary blends to males. The optimum blend that consistently caught males in pheromone traps was a 5:1 ratio of hexyl hexanoate and (E) -2-hexenyl hexanoate. Trapping studies also showed that green mirids came to pheromone traps only between 18:00 and 06:00 h, suggesting that they might be nocturnal rather than diurnal insects as previously thought. |
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