Synthesis of citrophilus mealybug sex pheromone using chrysanthemol extracted from Pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium)

A commercial pyrethrum extract was used as a source of chrysanthemol for the synthesis of the citrophilus mealybug (Pseudococcus calceolariae) sex pheromone. The chrysanthemic acid esters (pyrethrins I) were isolated and subsequently reduced to obtain chrysanthemol, which was used for ester pheromone synthesis. Field tests showed that the pheromone synthesized using plant-derived chrysanthemol was as attractive to male P. calceolariae as the pheromone obtained using a commercial isomeric chrysanthemol mixture.