Sex Pheromone Specificity: Taxonomic and Evolutionary Aspects in Lepidoptera

Sex pheromone specificity is the only obvious reproduction isolating mechanism for two tortricid species and two gelechiid species. Pheromones of the gelechiid species are cis-9-tetradecenyl acetate and trans-9-tetradecenyl acetate. Male response of one gelechiid species is inhibited by the pheromone of the other species. This could be important for sympatric evolutionary saltation.