Geographic variation in sex pheromone of asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, in Japan

Article abstract of DOI:10.1023/A:1020737726636

Geographic variation in the sex pheromone of the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenee), was surveyed in populations sampled at four locations ranging from 39.7°N to 32.9°N in Japan. The sex pheromone of the three northern populations was composed of (E)- and (Z)-12-tetradecenyl acetates with a mean E proportion of 36-39%. The southernmost population (Nishigoshi) had the same components but with a significantly higher E composition of 44%. The frequency distribution of the E ratio in the Nishigoshi population exhibited a small peak near 38% and a major peak near 46%. A family-wise analysis of the sex pheromone of this population confirmed that there were two distinct phenotypes regarding the E ratio. An '? 46% E strain' inhabits southern parts of Japan, in addition to an '? 38 % E strain,' which seems to be predominant in other regions of Japan.