Muscalure

Introduction

The house fly, Musca domestica L., though not gregarious in the unusual sense, is known to cluster around food. Thus, chemical attractants have been postulated to explain this activity. Indeed, analogies with the scents from decaying animal or vegetable waste were sought in a series of volatile aliphatic compounds examined many years ago by Cook (1926). The effectiveness of certain paraffin derivatives in attracting flies. (J. Agr. 32:347-58). Subsequently, Barnhart and Chadwich (1953, A "fly factor" in attraction studies). Science (Washington 117:104-5) described what they call "aggregating behavior" that was apparently induced chemically by a substance they named "fly-factor." Acree et al. (1959, Nature) of the attractant in sucrose fed on by house flies. (J. Econ. Entomol. 52:981-5), were successful in identifying this substance, and Ascher and Hirsch (1965), The house fly and the cube of sugar (world Rev. Pest Contr. 4:103-11) determined that some of the congregating, even at food sources, was probably visually stimulated.


The common house fly

 Meanwhile, an olfactometer and "pseudoflies" (small black objects simulating the female insect) had been used (Rogoff et al. 1964). A sex pheromone in the house fly, Musca domestica L.J. (Insect Physoil 10:239-46 to demonstrate that the female house fly secretes a volatile substance with spices-related excitant and attractant properties. Murvosh et al (1964).

Studies on the mating behavior of the house fly, Musca domestica (L. Ibid 65:68-71) described the mating behavior of the house fly and concluded that the normal high male copulatory activity. Mayer and Thaggard (1966 investigations of an olfactory attractant specific for males of the house fly (Ibid 12:891-7 reached a similar conclusion and considered the substance an olfactory contained in fly feces. Mayer and James (1971) Reponse of male Musca domestica to a specific olfactory attractant and its initial purification (J. Insect Physol. 176:833-42) demonstrated the nonpolar lipid nature of this material.

It is clear the house fly behavior with reference to feeding opportunities can be differentiated from the sexual activity of the male house fly, which is certainly influenced by a sex pheromone.

Muscalure itself is not as attractive as a formulation mix containing muscalure and bait. Muscalure is the pheromone component - or order to formulate with maximum attractancy, it is necessary to incorporate bait as well.

Generally, it has been found that baits contain fecal type odors for maximum attraction. We have a considerable body of knowledge about bait formulation and are working to develop a product which contains both components. Please inquire.
Specifications Sheet
PRODUCT NAME: Z-9-TRICOSENE
SYNONYMS: Muscalure
CAS #: 27519-02-4
CHEMICAL FORMULA: CH3(CH2)7CH==CH(CH2)12CH3
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: 322.6
APPEARANCE: Clear, water-white to yellow
ODOR: Mild to oily. Faint waxy
SOLUBILITY: Soluble in hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, esters.
Insoluble in water.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY AT 25°C 0.807
BOILING RANGE: 174-178°C @0.1 mm
FLASH POINT (closed cup): >235°F (113°C)
ANALYSIS: Z-9-Tricosene = 60 - 75%
E-9-Tricosene = 10 - 25%
C-23 Diolefins and Triolefins = 8 - 10%
C21 through C23 hydrocarbons = 3 - 5%
SUGGESTED USES: Sex pheromones for the female housefly
HANDLING AND SHIPPING: Non-hazardous, not known toxicity to humans or animals
Copyright © 2003-2006. Interchem Technologies.