A cDNA of PBAN receptor (Plx-PBANR) isolated from female pheromone gland of the diamondback moth encodes 338 amino acids and has 7 transmembranes, belonging to G-protein coupled receptor family. The fact that Plx-PBANR expression was only found in female pheromone gland revealed that pheromone gland is the only molecular target of Plx-PBAN. Plx-PBANR expressing cells increased level of Ca2+ influx when challenged with PBANs. When RNAi fragment for PBANR was injected into pupae, suppression of PBANR expression was maintained for at least 2 days at post-emergence. Injection of RNA fragment for inhibition of Plx-PBANR expression also inhibited mating behavior and suppressed sex pheromone production, suggesting that some molecular target was affected by reduced Plx-PBANR expression. We cloned partial Δ9 and Δ11 desaturase gene and investigated expression level in Plx-PBANR-RNAi moth. It is of interest that desaturases expression was reduced by RNA fragment injection. These results suggest of PBANR expression affects the molecular biological events of PBAN and eventually suppresses mating behavior.

Without pesticide applications, mass-trapping by sex pheromone was successful to control Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) in a large scale tomato glasshouse (10,000 ㎡) at a low cost of 60 won/㎡. Pheromone traps were placed both inside and outside of the glasshouse. Inside the glasshouse traps were installed in a regular space, one trap per 500 ㎡, to catch the moths that were present in the glasshouse, and traps were also set outside of the glasshouse, at intervals of ca. 20 m, to prevent the moths from invading the glasshouse. In the experiment, more than 400 S. litura were captured per trap.

Local and seasonal populations of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta , were monitored with sex pheromone trapping and RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) molecular marker to analyze their movement in apple orchards. To detect their movements among farms, pheromone traps were placed at regions between apple farms (‘outside-farms’) as well as within-farms (‘inside-farms’). Four seasonal adult peaks were evident in apple-cultivating fields from April to October in both trappings of inside- or outside-farms. After overwintering generation, populations of inside-farms were significantly reduced with frequent insecticide applications, compared to populations of outside-farms. Within apple farms, G. molesta tended to be unevenly distributed because of significant sublocal preference. Active movements of local and seasonal populations of G. molesta were supported by gene flow analysis using RAPD marker. Monitoring data using sex pheromone and seasonal reduction in initial genetic differentiation detected in the overwintering populations suggest that there must be significant movement of G. molesta among different orchards in apple-cultivating areas.

Some responses of cryptic mealybug, Pseudococcus cryptus, for a sex pheromone, [(1R,3R)-3-isopropenyl-2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl]methyl 3-methyl-3-butenoate, were studied to develop the applying strategy of sex pheromone trap for efficient monitoring and control-time decision in citrus orchards grown in greenhouse for 2 years (2007-2008). The optimal concentration of a sex pheromone was 1.0㎎ per hexane 100㎕ in a using pheromone lure. There was no significant effect of the attraction of male adults among different colours (white, blue and yellow) of plate-type trap baited with sex pheromone. The more male adults were attracted, as the distance of a pheromone trap form a citrus tree infested with cryptic mealybug was closer. The male adults were caught to sex pheromone trap from middle April to late November, and its peak period was the middle of July. The thermal constant for the next attraction was about 640 degree-days (lower threshold temperature=12℃) after confirmed the first attraction of male adults. The optimum control time for cryptic mealybug after the first attraction of male adults were confirmed was estimated as 450 to 500 degree-days.

Sex pheromone production in lepidopteran is stimulated and regulated by a pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN). A cDNA of PBAN receptor (Plx-PBANR) isolated from female pheromone gland of the diamondback moth (DBM, Plutella xylostella (L.) encodes 338 amino acids. Plx-PBANR has conserved biochemical motifs and 7 transmembranes, indicating it belongs to G-protein coupled receptor family. Plx-PBANR expression was only found in female pheromone gland, demonstrating that pheromone gland is the only molecular target of Plx-PBAN. Human uterus carcinoma (HeLa) was stably transfected with Plx-PBANR gene and its expression was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Plx-PBANR expressing cells increased level of Ca2+ influx when challenged with Plx-PBAN and Hez-PBAN from Heliothis zea. When RNAi fragment for PBANR was injected into pupae, suppression of PBANR expression was confirmed by RT-PCR and maintained for at least 2 days at post-emergence. Injection of RNA fragment into pupae for inhibition of Plx-PBANR expression also inhibited mating behavior, revealing that reproductive organ of the female has no spermatocyte and that there are no successful reproductive behaviors. These results suggest of PBANR expression affects the molecular biological events of PBAN and eventually suppresses mating behavior.

Ascotis selenaria, one of the major Geometridae moths, annually damages the citrus leaves and fruits. This study was focused to identify the sex pheromone components of A. selenaria in order to monitoring and control its population. Adult female and male were usually emerged at the time between 2 hour before and 2 hour afterlights-off in 16L:8D photoperiod. Mating, irrespective in female age, started at 2 hour after lights-off and peaked between 4 hour and 6 hour after lights-off. They copulated for 3 hour 47 min per pair. Gland extract of virgin female was analyzed with GC-MS and GC-EAD.Z,Z-6,9-3,4 epoxy nonadecadiene (Z,Z-6,9-3,4 epo- 19Hy) was identified as the candidate. Both of stereo isomer, Z,Z-6,9-3R,4S epo- 19Hy and Z,Z-6,9-3S,4R epo- 19Hy, showed a strong EAG response in male antennae. Further study like field attraction test should be needed to clarify the sex pheromone composition and in A. selenaria. Age and time were related with the amount of sex pheromone components biosynthesized in A. selenaria gland. 0 day old female had 112.7ng per gland at 5 hour after lights off and the amount was decreased as they aged. The sex pheromone biosynthesis started from lights-off and showed the increasing tendency during scotophase.

This study was conducted to evaluate the attractiveness of the sex pheromone trap of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenée as a forecasting tool from 2006 to 2008 in Suwon, Gyeong-gi province and Seosan, Chung-nam province, Korea. The sex pheromone lure was composed of Z11-18:Ald (55㎍): Z13-18:Ald (500㎍): Z11-18:OH (120㎍): Z13-18:OH (180㎍): Z13-18:Ac (55㎍) per a rubber septum, which set in a cylindrical cone trap. The trap catches of male moths was counted on a weekly basis and the lures were renewed every two weeks. The flight activity of C. medinalis moths monitored by the sex pheromone trap revealed two distinct peaks a year in both experimental areas from 2006 to 2008. Degree-days accumulation was calculated using lower developmental threshold (13.3℃) and degree-days (386.4DD) since adults had been first recorded. Estimated adult peak of the first generation was almost coincident with that observed by sex pheromone trap except in Suwon in 2008.

(E,E)-8,10-dodecadienyl acetate (E8E10-12:Ac) and (E)-8-dodecaenyl acetate (E8-12:Ac) have been selected as the candidate chemicals for sex pheromone components of the M. phaseoli, female through GC-EAD tests, whereas the two compounds and an additional candidate, (E,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate (E7Z9-12:Ac), have been found at a ratio of 7:1:1 in the abdominal tip extract (Yum et al., 2008). In order to determine the actual composition of sex pheromone, therefore, several blends using the three chemicals were evaluated for attractiveness to males of M. phaseoli around red bean and soybean fields. Individual components as well as two blends consisted of E8E10-12:Ac/E7Z9-12:Ac and E8-12:Ac/E7Z9-12:Ac did not show attractiveness, whereas the blend of E8E10-12:Ac/E8-12:Ac showed an increased effect in male capture. Of the tested blends with all three chemicals, the 7:1:2 composition of E8E10-12:Ac, E8-12:Ac and E7Z9-12:Ac attracted the most number of males. The results suggested that E7Z9-12:Ac is one of the sex pheromone components and may act as a synergist.

A cDNA of PBAN receptor (Plx-PBANR) isolated from female pheromone gland of the diamondback moth (DBM, Plutella xylostella (L.) encodes 338 amino acids. Plx-PBANR includes 7 transmembranes, indicating it belongs to G-protein coupled receptor family. Plx-PBANR showed high similarities with other moth PBANRs and its expression was only found in female pheromone gland, demonstrating that pheromone gland is the only molecular target of Plx-PBAN. To accomplish the funcional expression of Plx-PBANR, Human uterus carcinoma was stably transfected with Plx-PBANR gene and Plx-PBANR expression was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. Plx-PBANR expressing cells increased level of Ca2+ influx when challenged with Plx-PBAN and Hez-PBAN from Heliothis zea, as ionomycin as a positive control does. To inhibit Plx-PBNAR expression in vivo, RNAi fragment for Plx-PBANR was injected into pupae. Suppression of PBANR expression was confirmed by RT-PCR and also induced inhibition of mating behavior in adults, revealing that reproductive organ of the female has no spermatocyte and that there are no successful reproductive behaviors. RNAi-treated adults showed reduced pheromone production. These results suggests that inhibition of PBANR expression affects the molecular biological events of PBAN and eventually suppresses mating behavior.

We tested differences in female pheromone production and male response in three species of the genus Adoxophyes in Korea. Females of all three species produced mixtures of Z9-14:OAc and Z11-14:OAc as major components but in quite different ratios. The ratio of Z9-14:OAc and Z11-14:OAc in pheromone gland extracts was estimated to be 100:198 for A. honmai, 100:23 for A. orana, and 100:3880 for A. sp. Field tests showed that males of each species were preferentially attracted to the two-component blends of Z9-14:OAc and Z11-14:OAc mimicking the blends found in pheromone gland extracts of conspecific females. The effects of minor components identified in gland extracts on trap catches varied with species. Addition of 10me-12:OAc or E11-14:OAc to the binary blend of Z9-14:OAc and Z11-14:OAc significantly increased captures of A. honmai males, whereas E11-14:OAc exhibited a strongly antagonistic effect on catches of A. sp. males. Moreover, Z9-14:OH or Z11-14:OH added to the binary blends increased attraction of male A. orana but not A. honmai and A. sp. males, suggesting that these minor components, in addition to the relative ratios of the two major components, play a noteworthy role in reproductive isolation between Adoxophyes species in the southern and midwestern Korea where these species occur sympatrically.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of each single component of the synthetic sex pheromone in the rice green caterpillar, Naranga aenescens and rice leaf roller, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis. Trap catches with each single component or binary mixtures of the sex pheromone in N. aenescens were significantly lower than that with an optimum mixture (2: 1: 4) of Z9-14:Ac, Z9-16:Ac and Z11-16:Ac. But only few number of C. medinalis male was caught in trap baited with each component of the sex pheromone excepting Z13-18:Ald. In an optimum composition of the sex pheromone in C. medinalis, trap catches baited with an 11: 100: 11 mixture of Z11-18:Ald, Z13-18:Ald, and Z13-18:Ac without two alcohol components (Z11-18:OH and Z13-18:OH) was higher than that baited with an optimum mixture of Z11-18:Ald, Z13-18:Ald, Z11-18:OH, Z13-18:OH, and Z13-18:Ac. The efficacy of the sex pheromone lure of N. aenescens kept over 4 weeks. The occurrence of N. aenescens caught in trap baited with sex pheromone gave three peaks and C. medinalis showed two distinct peaks throughout the flight season. Therefore, it can be expected that pheromone-baited trap provides a simple tool for monitoring N. aenescens and C. medinalis in Korea.

An unidentified moth was captured in sex pheromone traps of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, especially at spring season in apple orchards and their vicinity. Though the captured males were similar in appearance to G. molesta males, they were easily distinguished by a marked difference in body size. Their occurrence pattern was also similar to that of overwintering G. molesta population from April to May, at which more males were captured in the pheromone traps installed in the vicinity of apple orchards than within apple orchards. After May, they were no longer captured in the pheromone traps. To investigate any larval damage due to this unidentified moth, molecular markers needed to be developed. Four PCR-RFLP markers originated from cytochrome b region of mitochondrial DNA could distinguish this unidentified moth from G. molesta.

This study was carried out to identify the sex pheromone of the soybean podworm, Matsumuraeses phaseoli. EAG response of M. phaseoli male antenna to various chemical compounds were examined. Of them, (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienyl acetate (E8E10-12:Ac) and (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate (E8-12:Ac) were most EAG-active. The abdominal tips of M. phaseoli females were extracted with distilled hexane 4h after light-off for 30 min. In an electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD), female extracts showed two EAG-active components. In a GC-MS analysis, three components (E8E10-12:Ac, E8-12:Ac, and (E,Z)-7,9-dodecadienyl acetate) were identical with those of authentic standards following the retention time and their ratio was 7: 1: 1. Of these three components, EAG responses of M. phaseoli males to E8E10-12:Ac and E8-12:Ac were significantly dose-dependent. Field effectiveness of these components remains to be evaluated.

This study was carried out to investigate the optimum composition of sex pheromone of the rice green caterpillar Naranga aenescens and its efficacy was examined in a paddy field. The mating rate of N. aenescens tended to be increased with age, showing the highest rate of mating at age 2. The highest mating showed within 1 h after the scotophase, and also mating took place even during the photophase. A GC-EAD analysis of virgin female extracts showed two EAG-active components. Their chromatographic behavior was coincident with that of an authentic sample of Z9-14:Ac and Z11-16:Ac, respectively. The mass spectrum of two EAG-active components was almost identical to that of the authentic samples. The EAG response to two compounds, Z9-14:Ac and Z11-16:Ac, was significantly dose-dependent, but response to Z9-16:Ac was not dose-dependent. A 2: 1: 4 mixture of Z9-14:Ac, Z9-16:Ac, and Z11-16:Ac was the most effective composition for attracting N. aenescens. The male moths increased in proportion to the pheromone amount impregnated. The sticky-typed wing trap baited with sex pheromone captured significantly more males than the other two type of trap examined. Trap catches within a paddy field were much more than those in perimeter trap. The trap-baited with sex pheromone gave three or four distinct fluctuation peaks of male catches throughout the flight seasons.

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.

Sex pheromone blends of large black chafer, Holotrichia parallela (Motschulasky), which consist of a major component L-isoleucine methyl ester (LIME) and a minor component (R)-(-)-linalool, showed different attractiveness depending on the mixing ratios of the two components in potato fields in South Korea. The best ratio for H. parallela attraction was 2.5:1 of LIME and (R)-(-)-linalool. The attraction ability of pheromone traps bated with 2.5:1 ratio did not drop up to 14m, but significantly decreased at 21m from H. parallela release point. Korean population of H. parallela showed almost same periodical activity to sex pheromone with that reported in Japan, which showing a circabidian periodicity of 48h cycle.

The citrus leafminer (CLM), Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, is an oligophagous pest of Rutaceae family, especially Citrus spp. occurring in most worldwide citrus-growing areas. This study was conducted to evaluate a sex pheromone chemical of CLM, (Z,Z)-7,1l-hexadecadienal (7Z,11Z-16:AI) in monitoring CLM by trap types, the diel activity and the influence of some weather factors on trap catch. CLM was well attracted on a trap baited 7Z,11Z-16:AI 1㎎. Sticky wing trap was more effective than bucket trap. Most caught CLM were attracted at 2~6 a.m. regardless of season, and activity time of CLM was affected by sunrise time as well as sunset time. The trap catch of CLM was more influenced by wind velocity than temperature for activity time of CLM. The number of caught CLM was fallen at below 13℃, but there was little effect for trap catch at over that temperature. The average wind velocity at over 2.0 m/sec made the number of caught CLM drop down. The precipitation did not affect the number of caught CLM when the average wind velocity was lower than at 2.0 m/sec.

The female sex pheromone of the peach leafminer, Lyonetia clerkella Linne (Lepidoptera:Lyonetiidae), was analyzed by coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detector (GC-EAD). GC-EAD analyses of pheromone gland extract revealed a single compound that elicited responses from male antennae. Retention time on DB-l column of EAD-active compound was identical to that of syn-thetic (14S)-14-Methyl-1-octadecene (14Sme-1-18Hy). In field tests, sticky traps baited with synthetic l4Sme-1-18Hy alone were highly attractive to male. Traps with 0.1 ㎎ dose showed the lowest catches, but there were no significant difference in the numbers of moth caught in traps baited with doses of 0.5 and 1.0 ㎎. The results of the field assays for longevity of pheromone traps showed that effectiveness of lures maintained for at least 8 weeks under field condition. The attractiveness of 14Sme-1-18Hy was not affected by the addition of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in lures as an antioxidant. Traps baited with 0.5 ㎎ 14Sme-l-18Hy were successfully used to monitor L. clerkella male flights. Analysis of seasonal trap catches over two years showed that moth flight activity in peach orchards occurred over a period of seven months with six generations in Suwon.