Comparisons in EAG Response to n-Alkyl Compounds between the Fruit- and Pinaceae-Feeding Type of Yellow Peach Moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (GUENEE) : Lepidoptera : Pyralidae

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Abstract
EAG responses to 90 n-alkyl compounds, with different functional groups and some homologues, were compared between the two types of the yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (GUENEE), fruit-feeding type (FFT) and Pinaceae-feeding type (PFT). Females of both types responded clearly to C5 or C6 compounds in all three series of alkanol, alkanal, and alkanoic acid while both males showed prominent bimodal response with C5 or C6 and C9 compounds in aldehyde. The antennae of both sexes in each type more significantly responded to n-hexanal taan to the corresponding alcohol and acid. The FFT antennae were twice as sensitive to n-hexanol and n-hexanal, and 1.5 times more to n-hexanoic acid than the PFT antennae. Females of both types were more sensitive to n-hexanoic acid than the males, particularly in FFT, but no significant difference was observed with n-hexanol and n-hexanal. The threshold dosages of n-hexanol, n-hexanal and n-hexanoic acid to both types were not significantly different, and were within 5×10-4μl to 1×10-3μl. The EAG responses of both types to ester homologues were unimodal and bimodal in female and male, respectively, similar to those to aldehyde homologues. From these differences in EAG response and with reference to the morphological and biological differences reported earlier, we conclude that the two types are separate species.