Attraction of Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) to a volatile pheromone: effects of release rate, host volatile, and trap placement

Environ Entomol. 2012 Jun;41(3):648-56. doi: 10.1603/EN11312.

Abstract

Attraction of emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, to a volatile pheromone was demonstrated in three field experiments using baited green sticky traps. A dose-response curve was generated for male A. planipennis to increasing release rates of (3Z)-dodecen-12-olide ((3Z)-lactone) in combination with the green leaf volatile, (3Z)-hexenol. Only the lowest release rate (<2.50 μg/d) of (3Z)-lactone significantly increased captures of male A. planipennis, as compared with traps baited with (3Z)-hexenol alone. Effect of trap height, (3Z)-lactone, and (3Z)-hexenol and their interactions on the trap capture of A. planipennis was determined in a factorial experiment. Number of males per trap was significantly and positively affected by (3Z)-lactone, (3Z)-hexenol, and trap height whereas number of females per trap was affected by trap height only; none of the interactions were significant. As predicted, the greatest mean catch of males was in traps baited with (3Z)-lactone and (3Z)-hexenol placed high in the canopy. Electroantennogram tests on the bark volatile, 7-epi-sesquithujene, demonstrated the ability of male and female A. planipennis antennae to detect and respond to this compound, particularly the (+)-7-epi-sesquithujene isomer. Results from an olfactometer bioassay and field testing did not demonstrate attraction of either males or females to (+)-7-epi-sesquithujene. These data increase our understanding of the pheromone ecology of the invasive emerald ash borer, provide further confirmation of the behavioral activity of the female-produced lactone pheromone, and should increase the ability to detect A. planipennis infestations where they are present.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coleoptera / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Fraxinus / chemistry
  • Hexanols / pharmacology
  • Insect Control / instrumentation
  • Insect Control / methods*
  • Lactones / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology
  • Ontario
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology
  • Sex Distribution
  • Terpenes / pharmacology
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / pharmacology*

Substances

  • 7-epi-sesquithujene
  • Hexanols
  • Lactones
  • Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Terpenes
  • Volatile Organic Compounds
  • phoebe oil
  • 3-hexen-1-ol