Geographic variation in the field response of male European pine sawflies, Neodiprion sertifer, to different pheromone stereoisomers and esters

Abstract

The European pine sawfly, Neodiprion sertifer (Geoffroy) (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae), is a widespread and economically important forest insect. The sex pheromone communication system of this species has been previously investigated in North America, Japan and Europe, with the acetate or propionate of the alcohol (2S,3S,7S)‐3,7‐dimethyl‐2‐pentadecanol (diprionol) shown to be the main pheromone component. In some locations, male attraction either increased or decreased by the addition of the (2S,3R,7R)‐diprionyl acetate isomer. However, these studies were made with different batches of synthetic pheromones, with different types of traps and according to different procedures, so the observed differences might not reflect true geographic variation. Here we investigate the geographic pattern of male sawfly response by using identical chemicals, traps and experimental procedures at eight field sites ranging from Japan in the east to Canada in the west. We found an increased inhibitory effect of the (2S,3R,7R)‐isomer from Japan and Siberia to Europe. At the eastern sites, increasing amounts of the (2S,3R,7R)‐isomer up to and equal to the amount of the (2S,3S,7S )‐isomer, did not influence the trap catch, whereas at sites in Europe, as little as 1% of the (2S,3R,7R)‐isomer almost completely inhibited the attraction. The response of the North American population was intermediate. The only site in which the (2S,3R,7R)‐isomer was essential for the attraction of males was in Siberia. A similar pattern was found for the (2S,3R,7S)‐isomer. Both the acetate and the propionate form of the (2S,3S,7S)‐isomer were attractive by themselves in Japan, Europe and North America, and neither the (2S,3R,7S)‐isomer nor the (2S,3R,7R)‐isomer alone were attractive, in the acetate or propionate form. We discuss the significance of our findings for the development of more efficient monitoring schemes and for the causes of population divergence and speciation in the European pine sawfly.

Kairomonal Response of Predators to Three Pine Bast Scale Sex Pheromones

“…Although several examples of different geographic variation in intraspecific sex pheromones have been reported (McElfresh and Millar, 2001;Anderbrant et al, 2000;El Sayed et al, 2003), we believe that the marked differences in response of both H. stigma and Elatophilus spp. to different host pheromones is the first example of geographic variation in response to kairomones.…”

Biorational insecticides in pest management

“…The stereomeric purity of the lure is very important for an efficient monitoring in many species, as proved to be for the oak processionary moth Thaumetopoea processionea, 106) the Israeli pine bast scale Matsucoccus josephi, 107) and the leafminer Phyllonorycter blancardella. 108) In addition, it should also be considered the possible geographical variation in pheromone composition, as in the European pine sawfly N. sertifer, 109) or in the apple leafminer moth, Phyllonorycter ringoniella. 110) Variables like color, form and position of the traps may have also a substantial influence in the number of catches, and optimization needs to be performed for every species.…”

Sex Pheromone of the Pine False Webworm Acantholyda erythrocephala

“…Most of these pheromones have been reported in the Diprionidae and are made up of various methyl branched acetate or propionate products of diprionol (Jewett et al 1976;Ahlgren et al 1979;Anderbrant et al 1992Anderbrant et al , 2000Anderbrant et al , 2005Bergström et al 1995Bergström et al , 1998Chen et al 1997;Tai et al 1998Tai et al , 2002Wassgren et al 2000;Ostrand et al 2003;Hedenström et al 2006). Acantholyda erythrocephala differs from diprionids in that its pheromone, (Z)-6,14-pentadecadienal, and likely pheromone precursor, (Z,Z)-1,9,15-pentacosatriene, are both simple unbranched straight chain hydrocarbons.…”