Identification of hairpencil secretion from maleMamestra brassicae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and electroantennogram studies

Extracts of maleMamestra brassicae (L.) hairpencils were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and by GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The extracts were found to consist of six components. Benzaldehyde, 2-methylpropanoic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, and phenol were present in the extracts as well as the previously identified benzyl alcohol and phenyl ethanol. The two major components were 2-phenylethanol and 2-methylbutanoic acid. They represented, respectively, 74% and 12.5% of the total blend in 3-day-old male extracts. Electroantennograms were recorded on male and female antennae in response to stimulation by hairpencil compounds. Male and female antennae responded to each chemical but the female responses were significantly higher than those of the males.