193 



problem that costs US farmers over $300 million annually. The solution dis- 

 cussed is exemplar^' of new, environmentally safe methods of insect control - 

 attraction to traps using synthetic, reproduction - associated odorants, 

 called pheromone. 



375. . 1977. A study of factors that control biosynthesis of the com- 

 pounds which comprise the boll weevil pheromone. J. Chem. Ecol. 3: 279-289. 



Biosynthesis of the four monoterpene compounds that comprise the pheromone 

 of the male boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, [1, (+) -cis- 2- 

 isopropenyl-1-methylcyclobutaneethanol; II, (Z)-3,3-dimethyl-A^ »^- 

 cyclohexaneethanol; III, (Z)-3,3-dimethyl-A^ »°-cyclohexaneacetaldehyde; 

 and IV, (E)-3,3-dimethyl-A^ ♦"-cyclohexaneacetaldehyde] was studied. More 

 pheromone was biosynthesized in the summer months, somewhat less was produced 

 by males in the presence of females than by isolated males, and the pheromone 

 was concentrated in the gut and surrounding tissue of the abdomen of the males. 

 Incubation of abdomens with the pheromone alcohols yielded related hydro- 

 carbons, aldehydes, and alcohols, which suggested the presence of several 

 enzyme systems. Boll weevils were able to allylically oxidize myrcene and 

 limonene to alcohols, a capability that suggests pheromone precursors may 

 be at least in part inhaled rather than ingested. The hemolymph may then 

 transport the precursor to the gut or some alternative site where allylic 

 oxication to the pheromone occurs. 



376. ; Gueldner, R. C; Henson, R. D.; and Thompson, A. C. 1974. 

 Volatile constituents of male and female boll weevils and their frass. 

 J. Insect Physiol. 20: 2135-2U2. 



The volatile constituents of male and female boll weevils, j\nthonomus grandis , 

 and their frass were analysed by GLC-MS. The 4 previously identified compo- 

 nents of the male pheromone were present only in the male volatile oil (3 '9%). 



