The role of alcohols in pheromone biosynthesis by two noctuid moths that use acetate pheromone components

Primary alcohols varying in chain length from C₁₃ to C₁₆, and in number, position, and geometric configuration of double bonds, were applied in dimethyl sulfoxide to the surface of the female sex pheromone glands of Heliothis subflexa (Gn.) and Hydraecia micacea (Esper). Capillary gas chromatographic analysis of extracts of the treated glands indicated that the alcohols were converted to the corresponding aldehydes by H. subflexa females and to the acetates by H. micacea females. Conversions of the alcohols showed no preferences for molecular weight, number, position, or geometry of the double bonds in either species. Application of the acetates of the primary alcohols to the gland surface of H. subflexa females resulted in the production of both the corresponding alcohols and aldehydes, while neither alcohols nor aldheydes were produced when acetates were applied to the glands of H. micacea. In addition, application of the acetates to the gland surface of Heliothis virescens (F.) resulted in the production of both the corresponding alcohols and aldehydes. However, no evidence was found to indicate that acetates are ever produced by the pheromone gland of females of H. virescens.