Identification of female-produced sex pheromone from banded cucumber beetle,Diabrotica balteata leconte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

A sex pheromone produced by female banded cucumber beetle adults,Diabrotica balteata LeConte, was isolated from volatiles trapped on Porapak Q and identified as 6,12-dimethylpentadecan-2-one. The structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and confirmed by synthesis. The synthesized racemic compound was equal to the purified natural pheromone in eliciting responses by banded cucumber beetle males to field traps. A doseresponse characteristic was demonstrated for the racemic material formulated on filter paper or rubber septa and placed in field traps. The absolute configuration at the C-6 and C-12 positions was not established.This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or the recommendation for its use by USDA.This research was initiated by Dr. P.L. Guss, deceased, Research Chemist, Northern Grain Insects Research Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Brookings, South Dakota. Dr. Guss conducted the preliminary purifications and bioassays that led to the isolation and identification of this pheromone.