Interspecific Pheromone Responses of Tussock Moths 1 and Some Isolating Mechanisms of Eastern Species 2

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Abstract
Laboratory tests with 5 species of Orygia tussock moths ( O. leucostigma (J. E. Smith), O. definita Packard, O. antiqua (L.), O. pseudotsugata (McDunnough), and O. cana (= vetusta ) Edwards) revealed that all species show some degree of pheromone cross stimulation which ranged from weak (16–41% response) to strong (>60%). O. definita showed the most exclusive sex pheromone system because they were strongly stimulated by fewer species and only homospecific males responded strongly to definita females. In the laboratory, (Z)-6-heneicosen-11-one, the female sex pheromone of O. pseudotsugata , was sexually stimulating to O. leucostigma and O. antiqua males but not to O. definita males. In electroantennogram tests, O. definita males were 100-fold less sensitive than the other 2 species to this compound. In the field, the chemical attracted O. leucostigma , O. antiqua , and the pine tussock moth, Dasychira plagiata (Walker). Several isolating mechanisms were described which help maintain the species integrity of these sympatric eastern tussock moth species.

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