Cerambycid Beetle Species with Similar Pheromones are Segregated by Phenology and Minor Pheromone Components

Abstract

Recent research has shown that volatile sex and aggregation-sex pheromones of many species of cerambycid beetles are highly conserved, with sympatric and synchronic species that are closely related (i.e., congeners), and even more distantly related (different subfamilies), using the same or similar pheromones. Here, we investigated mechanisms by which cross attraction is averted among seven cerambycid species that are native to eastern North America and active as adults in spring: Anelaphus pumilus (Newman), Cyrtophorus verrucosus (Olivier), Euderces pini (Olivier), Neoclytus caprea (Say), and the congeners Phymatodes aereus (Newman), P. amoenus (Say), and P. varius (F.). Males of these species produce (R)-3-hydroxyhexan-2-one as their dominant or sole pheromone component. Our field bioassays support the hypothesis that cross attraction between species is averted or at least minimized by differences among species in seasonal phenology and circadian flight periods of adults, and/or by minor pheromone components that act as synergists for conspecifics and antagonists for heterospecifics.

Adults of the cerambycid beetleMegacyllene caryaeuse both olfactory and visual information to locate mates

“…Because many species of beetles in the family Cerambycidae use similar or identical blends of pheromones, orientation to the incorrect species of beetle is a potential problem (Millar & Hanks, 2017). The evolution of blends of pheromones that include minor components (i.e., compounds in the blend of pheromones that are not attractive when presented alone; Mitchell et al, 2015) may be one way cerambycids that are active during the same times of day or year, avoid errors in orientation. Our findings suggest that visual cues may act as another mechanism by which beetles in sympatry avoid orientation to the wrong species of beetle.…”

The Lutzomyia longipalpis complex: a brief natural history of aggregation-sex pheromone communication

“…The specificity of the message can be achieved in a multitude of ways including variation in overall composition, the presence and composition of stereoisomers [11, 12] or the ratio of specific components all of which may lead to qualitative and quantitative differences in the signal emitted [5, 13, 14]. Even subtle changes in the pheromone blend (the specific ratios of chemicals within a pheromone) [15] or partitioning of communication channels through temporal or seasonal differences in pheromone production and emission as well as shifts in circadian activity [16–18] may result in individuals being unable to detect one another [9, 18, 19] and thus lead to speciation. Other factors such as the interaction with host produced volatile chemicals and preferences for particular habitats could also contribute to serve as mechanisms that lead to the avoidance of cross attraction between closely related heterospecifics that exist in sympatry [18].…”

Efficacy of semiochemical-baited traps for detection of Scolytinae species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Russian Far East

“…In the last decade or so, long-distance sex and aggregation pheromones have been identifi ed in several species of longhorn beetles in the subfamilies Cerambycinae (Fettköther et al, 1995;Allison et al, 2004;Lacey et al, 2004Lacey et al, , 2007Mitchell et al, 2015, Ray et al, 2015, Spondylidinae (Silk et al, 2007;Sweeney et al, 2010), Prioninae (Cervantes et al, 2006), Lamiinae (Fonseca et al, 2010, Pajares et al, 2010Teale et al, 2011;Allison et al, 2012;Fierke et al, 2012) and Lepturinae (Ray et al, 2011, and use of racemic blends as well as pure enantiomers in traps has signifi cantly increased the detection rate of several species of cerambycids Mitchell et al, 2011;Hanks & Miller, 2012Wong et al, 2012;Sweeney et al, 2014;Ray et al, 2015;Miller et al, 2015b). As a result, racemic blends of the cerambycinae pheromones, 3-hydroxyhexan-2-one and 3-hydroxyoctan-2-one, have been used in operational surveillance programs by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from .…”