Sensory and behavioral effects of gossyplure alcohol on sex pheromone response of male pink bollworm moths, Pectinophora gossypiella

(Z, Z)- and (Z, E)-7,11-hexadecadienol, reported to be pheromone precursors, interfere with the normal sequence of behavioral response of male Pectinophora gossypiella to sex pheromone. The magnitude of the interference can be diminished with higher release rates of the sex pheromone. (Z, Z)-7,11-Hexadecadienol is more effective than its Z, E isomer in eliciting the reduction in the behavioral response. Electroantennographic evidence suggests that each alcohol may be interfering more with receptor sites for the conformationally similar pheromone acetate than with receptor sites for the other pheromone isomer. Defining behavioral and physiological effects of pheromone analogs such as the alcohols of gossyplure may help to determine their potential for behavioral manipulations.