Identification of a Male-produced Aggregation Pheromone in the Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis

Abstract

Two major components have been detected in the headspace volatiles of adult male Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) that are not present in the headspace volatiles of adult females. The compounds were identified as (R)-lavandulyl acetate and neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate by comparison with synthetic standards using gas chromatography (GC), GC mass spectrometry (MS), and chiral GC. Field trials were conducted with synthetic compounds in naturally infested crops of sweet pepper grown in large plastic greenhouses in Spain. The catch of adult females and males on blue sticky traps was increased by neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate alone or by a 1:1 blend of (R)-lavandulyl acetate and neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate, but (R)-lavandulyl acetate was not active alone. This is the first identification of an aggregation pheromone in the order Thysanoptera. The possible role of (R)-lavandulyl acetate is discussed.

Management strategies for western flower thrips in vegetable greenhouses in Iran: a review

“…These include Kairomone, Allomone, Synomone, and Pheromone (Sarmiento 2014). Pheromones are used to pull pests of their refuge and are divided into three groups: sex pheromones (on opposite sex), aggregation pheromones (attracting both males and females), and alarm pheromones (preventing pest establishment) (Teerling et al 1993;Hamilton et al 2005;Sarmiento 2014). The addition of the aggregation pheromone of F. occidentalis (neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate) in blue sticky trap is useful to increment the number of trapping thrips (Sampson & Kirk 2013).…”

Double-attraction method to control Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) in pepper crops in Tunisia

“…Those traps may contain semiochemical substances such as kairomones or pheromones which can improve their effectiveness (Gómez et al 2006;van Tol & de Kogel 2007 Uchida et al 2008;Harbi et al 2013). WFT is a thrips species that responds to odours such as pheromones produced by individuals of the same species or that may be of different types, particularly alarm pheromones, which are produced by second instar larvae (Teerling et al 1993;MacDonald et al 2003), and sex and aggregation pheromones, which are produced by adult males (Hamilton et al 2005;Kirk 2009). According to Hamilton et al (2005), Mound (2009), andKirk (2009), adult males of many thrips species have structures known as pore plates or areae porosae on the underside of the abdomen.…”

“…WFT is a thrips species that responds to odours such as pheromones produced by individuals of the same species or that may be of different types, particularly alarm pheromones, which are produced by second instar larvae (Teerling et al 1993;MacDonald et al 2003), and sex and aggregation pheromones, which are produced by adult males (Hamilton et al 2005;Kirk 2009). According to Hamilton et al (2005), Mound (2009), andKirk (2009), adult males of many thrips species have structures known as pore plates or areae porosae on the underside of the abdomen. These pore plates are associated with large internal glandular structures indicating that their function is to release pheromones.…”

“…These pore plates are associated with large internal glandular structures indicating that their function is to release pheromones. On the other hand, sex pheromone produced by WFT males also plays a role as an aggregation pheromone, thus attracting both sexes (Hamilton et al 2005;Kirk personal communication). Furthermore, Hamilton et al (2005) reported that WFT males produce a pheromone consisting of two major components, (r)-lavandulyl acetate and neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate, substances that may play a major role in thrips control.…”

“…On the other hand, sex pheromone produced by WFT males also plays a role as an aggregation pheromone, thus attracting both sexes (Hamilton et al 2005;Kirk personal communication). Furthermore, Hamilton et al (2005) reported that WFT males produce a pheromone consisting of two major components, (r)-lavandulyl acetate and neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate, substances that may play a major role in thrips control. In fact, a WFT aggregation pheromone has been identified and commercialised (Hamilton et al 2005;Gómez et al 2006).…”