Sex Pheromone Production and Calling in Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Effect of Temperature and Light

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Abstract
Sex pheromone production in females of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), starts with the onset of scotophase and when the titer of the pheromone reaches ≍30 ng (usually within 30 min), females start calling. Brief exposure of scotophase females to light increased calling significantly, with a corresponding decrease in pheromone titer. Females in photophase can produce pheromone if injected with the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN), but the titer declines rapidly after 1 h. The titer continues to increase in scotophase females for 4 h. The observed lack of pheromone production at low temperatures (14°C) is probably attributable to inhibition of PBAN release and to lower pheromone biosynthetic activity.

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