Specificity of sex pheromones, the role of host plant odour in the olfactory attraction of males, and mate recognition in the aphid Cryptomyzus

Guldemond, J., Dixon, A., Pickett, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8386-3770, Wadhams, L. and Woodcock, C. 1993. Specificity of sex pheromones, the role of host plant odour in the olfactory attraction of males, and mate recognition in the aphid Cryptomyzus. Physiological Entomology 18 (2) , pp. 137-143. 10.1111/j.1365-3032.1993.tb00460.x

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Abstract

Choice tests in an olfactometer showed that males of the aphid Cryptomyzus galeopsidis spent more time in the odour of conspecific females than of a sibling species or a more distantly related Cryptomyzus species, which all co-occur on red currant. Analysis of the pheromone-emissions of females showed the presence of a nepetalactol and a nepetalactone, two known aphid sex pheromone components. However, no interspecific difference in the ratio of the components (c. 30:1) was found, and this ratio did not change as the females aged. Males were only slightly attracted by a synthetic 30:1 mixture of these two components, and in a choice test preferreď the odour of conspecific females. The sex pheromone of Cryptomyzus spp. must thus consist of more than two components, the first time this has been reported for aphids. Host plant odour did not attract males or enhance the activity of the pheromone.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Chemistry
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	0307-6962
Last Modified:	10 Feb 2026 11:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/184499

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