Three active components (Z8-12:Ac, E8-12:Ac, and Z8-12:OH) are known in sex pheromone of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, and have been commercially available to apply for population monitoring and mating disruption. However, there have been variation among commercial products in pheromone composition and amount impregnated in each pheromone releaser. This study was performed to optimize factors influencing on pheromone monitoring of G. molesta by analyzing pheromone composition/amount, effective period of releaser, and trap type/placement in apple trees. High purity of Z8-12:Ac component was effective to attract males, in which 96% or more of cis acetate isomer component appeared to be optimal composition. Pheromone amounts (0.01-1 ㎍) impregnated in each rubber dispenser did not give significant effect on monitoring during 90 days from June to August. "Delta" trap was much more efficient than "cone" trap to collect males. Trap installation was another factor, in which placing traps at canopy level was much efficient than at trunk or ground levels. Pheromone trap monitoring with these optimal factors indicated three to four adult peaks from June to September in addition to high overwintering population from April to May in pesticide-applied orchards in Andong, Korea.

Three sex pheromone components (cis-8-dodecenyl acetate (Z12Ac), trans-8-dodecenyl acetate (E12Ac), cis-8-dodecenol (Z12OH)) of the Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, were chemically synthesized. Especially to increase the composition of cis-stereoisomer, a triple bond intermediate was hydrogenated at -20℃ with catalytic Pd/BaSO₄. The resulting product consisted of the acetates with a stereoisomer ratio in 92:8 (Z:E). The biological activity of the synthesized pheromone compounds was analyzed both in male responses and orientation disruption. The indoor pheromone effect was determined by male flight behavior showing wing movement in response to lure. Different mixtures of the synthetic pheromone components were prepared by mixing acetate and alcohol components in 100:0, 99:1, and 90:10 (g/g) and tested with a comparison of a standard commercial pheromone lure. The highest pheromone effect was observed in only acetate mixture (100:0) and the effect was reduced with the addition of the alcohol component. This indoor pheromone effect could be observed in field monitoring trial, in which 100:0 mixture showed the highest trap catches. Orientation disruption assay was conducted indoor by using a cage, in which the center had a commercial lure on sticky plate and the four candidates were placed at 6 ㎝ away from the central lure on each of four directions. Test males were released to the arena during overnight (12 h) and then the caught males on the sticky plate were counted. The synthesized pheromone as well as the commercial pheromone showed 100% orientation disruption. However, the orientation disruption effect was reduced with decrease in the number of the surrounding disrupting pheromone baits. These results clearly suggest that the synthesized sex pheromone of G. molesta is biologically active and can be used for field mating disruption.