Attraction ofAgrilus planipennis(Coleoptera: Buprestidae) to a Volatile Pheromone: Effects of Release Rate, Host Volatile, and Trap Placement

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.

A Biologically Active Analog of the Sex Pheromone of the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis

“…Because the analog 3 is so much more cost effective to produce, this increased dose may still prove beneficial as a trap-lure for use in surveys. Finally, there was also some evidence that females may be responding to the analog 3 and (3Z)-lactone 1, which has not been demonstrated in previous trapping studies testing with (3E)-lactone 2 and/ or (3Z)-lactone 3 (Ryall et al 2012(Ryall et al , 2013Silk et al 2011). Although captures of females with the analog 3 were still low relative to captures of males, this is still a novel and significant result that might prove to be important if female sampling is required by trapping.…”

“…Field Trapping Studies Trapping experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 to test the effects of (3Z)-lactone and the analog on mean captures of EAB on dark green sticky prism traps (Francese et al 2010) co-baited with (3Z)-hexenol (Ryall et al 2012(Ryall et al , 2013Silk et al 2011). Experiments were conducted in Sault Ste.…”

“…Based on subsequent trapping experiments, we demonstrated that captures of males on green prism traps placed in the canopy and baited with both (3Z)-lactone and (3Z)-hexenol were up to 100 % higher compared with trap catches in traps baited with (3Z)-hexenol alone (Silk et al 2011). Higher captures occurred particularly when traps were placed in the ash canopy (Ryall et al 2012(Ryall et al , 2013. Our previous research demonstrated that (3Z)-lactone is a component of an EAB-sex pheromone, but only when combined with appropriate host volatiles.…”

First detection of Agrilus planipennis in Connecticut made by monitoring Cerceris fumipennis (Crabronidae) colonies

“…The average time from infestation to detection is 6-12 years (McCullough et al 2011;MFK unpublished data), ample time for the beetles to become firmly established in a new location. Much research and resources have been devoted to developing survey techniques to shorten the time between infestation and detection (Francese et al 2006;Poland et al 2006;Crook et al 2009;Francese et al 2011;Grant et al 2011;McCullough et al 2011;Ryall et al 2012).…”

A Geosimulation Approach for Data Scarce Environments: Modeling Dynamics of Forest Insect Infestation across Different Landscapes

“…Although capable of flight upwind, insect species that respond to pheromones, such as at the EAB, will typically fly downwind until pheromones are encountered [45]. The wind (F8) criterion is thus selected.…”