Spodoptera littoralis is a destructive caterpillar pest indigenous to tropical and subtropical areas of agriculture that has the potential, if accidentally imported, of becoming a major greenhouse pest in Northern Europe. The UK government agency Defra reports that many populations of the species are already highly pesticide resistant2.
Spodoptera littoralis is a destructive caterpillar pest indigenous to tropical and subtropical areas of agriculture that has the potential, if accidentally imported, of becoming a major greenhouse pest in Northern Europe. The UK government agency Defra reports that many populations of the species are already highly pesticide resistant2.
S. littoralis possess a pair of antennae for sensory perception, that vary in morphology between the larval and adult stages of development. Up until now, it was thought that on maturation, only adult males expressed specific protein receptors for the detection of female sex pheromones.Scientists at the Insect Physiology: Signalling and Communication research unit in Versailles, France 1, have identified that S. littoralis respond to the treatment of food sources with adult sex pheromone, providing an unexpected cue for food detection in S. littoralis larvae.
Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was utilized to extract the key component of S. littoralis pheromones from two-day old (adult) S. littoralis. Choice tests demonstrated that the larvae have an undefined mechanism of sensing adult pheromone that acts as a cue for food detection.
“Since the caterpillar behaviour we evidenced was totally unexpected, we had to use a combination of different approaches to be sure of it,” commented Dr Jacquin-Joly, leader of the team. “Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry represents an invaluable tool to identify and quantify key odorant components in a natural extract.”
1. Emmanuelle Jacquin-Joly et al, Nature Comm. 3:1047 (2012).
2. Defra. “African Cotton Leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis: Fact-sheet”, (www. secure.fera.defra.gov.uk- Accessed September 2012).
This story originally appeared in The Column. Click here to view that issue.
New TRC Facility Accelerates Innovation and Delivery
April 25th 2025We’ve expanded our capabilities with a state-of-the-art, 200,000 sq ft TRC facility in Toronto, completed in 2024 and staffed by over 100 PhD- and MSc-level scientists. This investment enables the development of more innovative compounds, a broader catalogue and custom offering, and streamlined operations for faster delivery. • Our extensive range of over 100,000 high-quality research chemicals—including APIs, metabolites, and impurities in both native and stable isotope-labelled forms—provides essential tools for uncovering molecular disease mechanisms and exploring new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
New Guide: Characterising Impurity Standards – What Defines “Good Enough?”
April 25th 2025Impurity reference standards (IRSs) are essential for accurately identifying and quantifying impurities in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Yet, with limited regulatory guidance on how much characterisation is truly required for different applications, selecting the right standard can be challenging. To help, LGC has developed a new interactive multimedia guide, packed with expert insights to support your decision-making and give you greater confidence when choosing the right IRS for your specific needs.