Rafaeli, A., Volcani Center, Department of Stored Products, Inst. Technol. Storage Agric. Prod., P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel

In many species of moths, including Plodia interpunctella, post-mating events include the cessation of sex pheromone communication and the initiation of oviposition. In a previous study we have shown that octopamine and several analogues inhibit the production of sex pheromone in the moth. The present study demonstrates that octopamine and two analogues, clonidine and 2-(2,6-dimethylanilino) imidazolidine induce oviposition by virgin females of P. interpunctella, to a comparable level to that of mated females. Moreover, octopamine caused a significant reduction in the percentage of fertile eggs laid by mated females. It is suggested that octopamine therefore, mimics both the responses that occur post-mating: suppression of sex pheromone biosynthesis and stimulation of oviposition. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.