Blends of Pheromones, With and Without Host Plant Volatiles, Can Attract Multiple Species of Cerambycid Beetles Simultaneously

Abstract

Pheromone components of cerambycid beetles are often conserved, with a given compound serving as a pheromone component for multiple related species, including species native to different continents. Consequently, a single synthesized compound may attract multiple species to a trap simultaneously. Furthermore, our previous research in east-central Illinois had demonstrated that pheromones of different species can be combined to attract an even greater diversity of species. Here, we describe the results of field bioassays in the northeastern, midwestern, southeastern, south-central, and southwestern United States that assessed attraction of cerambycids to a 'generic' pheromone blend containing six known cerambycid pheromone components, versus the individual components of the blend, and how attraction was influenced by plant volatiles. Nineteen species were attracted in significant numbers, with the pheromone blend attracting about twice as many species as any of the individual components. The blend attracted species of three subfamilies, whereas individual components attracted species within one subfamily. However, some antagonistic interactions between blend components were identified. The plant volatiles ethanol and α-pinene usually enhanced attraction to the blend. Taken together, these experiments suggest that blends of cerambycid pheromones, if selected carefully to minimize inhibitory effects, can be effective for sampling a diversity of species, and that plant volatiles generally enhance attraction. Such generic pheromone blends may serve as an effective and economical method of detecting incursions of exotic, potentially invasive species.

Common Cerambycid Pheromone Components as Attractants for Longhorn Beetles (Cerambycidae) Breeding in Ephemeral Oak Substrates in Northern Europe

“…Field studies conducted in the eastern USA, where P. testaceus was introduced many decades ago (Swift and Ray 2010), have revealed inconsistent responses to the two compounds. For example, adults of P. testaceus were attracted in significant numbers to traps baited with 3-hydroxy-2-hexanone alone during bioassays that lacked a 2-methyl-1-butanol treatment, but only the latter compound was attractive when both compounds were presented as single compound treatments in other bioassays (Hanks and Millar 2013; Hanks et al 2018, 2019; Millar et al 2018). Other field trials conducted in the eastern USA, with traps baited with blends of cerambycid pheromones that included 2-methyl-1-butanol and 3-hydroxy-2-hexanone (Handley et al 2015; Hanks and Millar 2013), have also demonstrated significant attraction of P. testaceus to these blends.…”

“…Samples of ( R )- and ( S )-3-hydroxy-2-hexanone for comparison with the insect-produced compounds were available from previous work (Lacey et al 2007). Racemic 2-methyl-1-butanol and its ( S )-enantiomer, and 2,3-hexanedione were purchased from Aldrich Chemical Co. (Milwaukee, WI, USA), and ( R )-2-methyl-1-butanol was prepared by reduction of ( R )-2-methylbutanoic acid as described in Hanks et al (2018). 1-Hexanol (reagent grade 98%, CAS 111–27-3, Sigma-Aldrich, Hamburg, Germany) and racemic 2-methyl-1-pentanol (99.8%, CAS 105–30-6, Dr. Ehrenstorfer GmbH, Augsburg, Germany) were purchased to confirm the identities of trace compounds in extracts from P. alni .…”

Two Odorant-Binding Proteins of the Dark Black Chafer (Holotrichia parallela) Display Preferential Binding to Biologically Active Host Plant Volatiles

“…However, this tactic has several shortcomings, including a male response bias to the sex pheromone traps and a short duration of residual activity ( Reddy and Guerrero, 2004 ; Said et al, 2005 ). Similar to insect pheromones, plant volatiles are important signaling compounds that regulate insect behavior and exhibit potential as natural pesticides, lures, or antifeedants ( Hanks et al, 2012 ; Hanks and Millar, 2013 ; Jung et al, 2013 ; Collignon et al, 2016 ; Wang F. et al, 2016 ; Wang Y.L. et al, 2016 ).…”

Botanical Volatiles Selection in Mediating Electrophysiological Responses and Reproductive Behaviors for the Fall Webworm Moth Hyphantria cunea

“…Plant volatiles serve as essential cues to insects searching for resources, mates, and oviposition sites (Juma et al, 2016;Hanks et al, 2018;Houjun et al, 2018;Xu and Turlings, 2018). The reception of host-plant volatiles in Lepidoptera is accomplished through a highly sensitive chemosensory system on the antenna, FIGURE 3 | Dosage responses of H. cunea adults EAG to selected host volatile components.…”