Sex pheromone of the female pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Homoptera: pseudococcidae):: Biological activity evaluation

The synthetic sex pheromone of the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), was evaluated in the field bioassays. In a period of 27 wk, > 90,000 males were captured on sticky traps in the three locations in Key Biscayne, FL. Our experimental results showed that a laboratory-prepared (R)-lavandulyl (S)-2-methylbutanoate and (R)-maconelliyl (S)-2-methylbutanoate blend in a ratio of 1:5 on a rubber septum was attractive to males at concentration as low as 0.1 mu g per trap. Male M. hirsutus captures were not significantly different from traps baited with 1- or 10-mu g doses, but 0.1- and 100-mu g doses captured significantly fewer males. Some of the unnatural stereoisomers of the pheromone antagonized attraction. The alcohols, which could be detected in virgin female's volatiles, also exhibited a repulsive effect. Rubber septum lures baited with 1- and 10-mu g doses of the synthetic pheromone remained active for at least 21 wk under field conditions. Monitoring of adult flight activity with a 1-mu g dose of synthetic pheromone indicated there were multiple generations during the tested period of 8 July 2003 to 12 January 2004.