According to Roelofs and Cardé (1977) "Primary sex pheromone components are those that elicit long-distance upwind anemotaxis, while secundary sex pheromone components are those that are not essential for eliciting upwind anemotaxis, but that in combination with the primary components evoke other aspects of the mating sequence". But some autors use concepts of Major and Minor components. There is a difference between Primary and Major, and Secundary and minoritary componets?
most of the time the pheromone realized by an insect (generally female) is a mix of different compound, for example in codling moth (Cydia pomonella) the mayor compound is codlemone, but there is more compounds working in that pheromone, and also the play a key role, like the alcohols in the the Oriental fruit moth pheromone, which contribute to the attractiveness of the olfamona (the main compound). Probably in most of the cases Main (primary) and mayor compound is the same, but not always, because for me Mayor and minor means the compounds which are in mayor or minor proportion in the mix, not necessary the key ones.
Each pheromone is mixture of many compounds. Major ones are those without which pheromone does not work.Miner ones elicit specific behavior.
Major component elicits behavioral response alone. Minor compounds in right proportion enhance the action of pheromone. As a rule major compound is a primary one.
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