ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the chemical characteristics of lepidopterous sex pheromones and related scent substances, their biosynthesis and secretion, and utilization to pest management. It summarizes the main endogenous biosynthetic pathways leading to the production and release of sex pheromones. The chapter suggests that quality of food may significantly affect the biosynthesis of sex pheromones even when it does not affect growth and development. Most of the species belonging to Lepidoptera utilize aliphatic straight-chain compounds such as alcohols, acetates, aldehydes, ketones, and hydrocarbons including epoxyhydro-carbons. Sex pheromone specificity is an important basis of sexual isolation between sympatric species especially when other premating isolation mechanisms, such as habitat and seasonal and diel differentiation in mating are not working. Biosynthesis and secretion of pheromonal compounds are under the control of various physiological and environmental factors.
