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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2025, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (11): 215-225.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20240608

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Research Progress on the Sex Pheromones of Lymantriinae Species (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)

Siyan Wang1,Zhen Zhang1,Xiangbo Kong1,Jiaxing Fang1,Fuxiang Han2,Youjiu Lei2,Fu Liu1,*(),Sufang Zhang1,*()   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry Beijing 100091
    2. Beishan Forest Farm of Huzhu Tu Autonomous County of Qinghai Haidong 810500
  • Received:2024-10-19 Revised:2024-11-16 Online:2025-11-25 Published:2025-12-11
  • Contact: Fu Liu,Sufang Zhang E-mail:liufu2006@163.com;zhangsf@caf.ac.cn

Abstract:

Lymantriinae moths are highly destructive pests with a broad global distribution and strong reproductive capacity, often causing huge losses to agricultural and forestry production. Insect sex pheromones are characterized by high specificity, sensitivity, safety to natural enemies, and environmental friendliness, making them highly valuable for pest management. Worldwide, sex gland extracts from 42 Lymantriinae species have been measured and analyzed, and a total of 55 sex pheromone components have been identified. These components are primarily classified as TypeⅡ and Type Ⅲ, with only the sex pheromones of the genus Euproctis, being Type I. The chemical constituents of sex pheromones in Lymantriinae insects exhibit intricate structural features, including unsaturated double bonds, epoxy groups, methyl side chains, and multiple isomers, posing considerable challenges for identification. The specificity of their sex pheromones in Lymantriinae insects maintains reproductive isolation between species, and minor variations in pheromone component ratios or isomeric forms can significantly alter biological activity. By comparing and analyzing the identified sex pheromone components of Lymantriinae insects, it was found that there is a high degree of overlap among species within the same genus, and even some different species share identical pheromone components with only different proportions. Additionally, some components even occur in the insects of multiple genera. Although significant progress has been made in the study of Lymantriinae sex pheromones in China, a gap remains compared with international research. This paper conducts a systematic comparison and analysis of the sex pheromones in Lymantriinae, which would provide reference for future efforts in pheromone identification, chemical synthesis, and practical pest control, and promote the development of eco-friendly management strategies for Lymantriinae pests in China.

Key words: Lymantriinae, insect, sex pheromone, identification

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