Identification of the major sex pheromone component of the scale insect, Aulacaspis murrayae Takahashi.

(R)-Solanone was identified as a female-specific compound from aerations of virgin females of the scale insect, Aulacaspis murrayae Takahashi. The stereochemistry of the insect-produced solanone was confirmed to be (R) by comparison with synthesized racemic and chiral standards on a chiral stationary phase GC column. In bioassays, males were strongly attracted to a synthesized sample of (R)-solanone, demonstrating that this compound is a sex pheromone component for this species.