Sex pheromones of two leafminer species, Antispila oinophylla and Holocacista rivillei (Lepidoptera Heliozelidae) infesting grapevine in Italy

Two heliozelid species, Antispila oinophylla van Nieukerken & Wagner and Holocacista rivillei (Stainton) severely infest Italian grapevines. The volatile pheromones from calling females were collected by solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). Two compounds from A. oinophylla females eliciting electrophysiological activity from the conspecific male antenna were identified as (Z)-5-tetradecenal and (Z)-7-tetradecenal by coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. SPME collections from H. rivillei produced no GC-EAD active compounds but analysis of fatty acyl moieties in the pheromone gland, demonstrated the presence of the putative pheromone biosynthetic precursors (Z)-5-dodecenoic acid and (Z)-7-tetradecenoic acid. Field trapping experiments in Italy confirmed that (Z)-5-tetradecenal and (Z)-7-tetradecenal are essential for the attraction of male A. oinophylla in a blend ratio of 15:100 respectively, whereas (Z)-5-dodecenal and (Z)-7-tetradecenal attract male H. rivillei in a blend ratio of 100:6.