Progress Toward an Attract-and-Kill Device for Asian Citrus Psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) Using Volatile Signatures of Citrus Infected With Huanglongbing as the Attractant

Abstract

Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama), preferentially orient toward citrus hosts infected with the phytopathogenic bacterium, Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) the agent of citrus greening (Huanglongbing, HLB), compared to uninfected counterparts. We investigated whether this preference for the odors of infected plants could be useful for the development of an attract-and-kill (AK) device for D. citri. Twenty-nine blends of volatile organic compounds derived from the odor of citrus infected with CLas were tested in laboratory olfactometer tests, and two blends were also assessed under field conditions. A seven component blend of tricosane: geranial: methyl salicylate: geranyl acetone: linalool: phenylacetaldehyde: (E)-β-ocimene in a 0.40: 0.06: 0.08: 0.29: 0.08: 0.06: 0.03 ratio released from a proprietary slow-release matrix attracted twice more D. citri to yellow sticky traps compared with blank control traps. The attractive blend was subsequently co-formulated with spinosad insecticide into a slow-release matrix to create a prototype AK formulation against D. citri. This formulation effectively reduced the population density of D. citri up to 84% as measured with tap counts when deployed at a density of eight 2.5 g dollops per tree as compared with untreated controls in small plot field trials conducted in citrus orchards. Psyllid populations were not statistically affected at a deployment rate of four dollops per tree. Our results indicate that an AK formulation incorporating spinosad and a volatile blend signature of citrus greening into a slow-release matrix may be useful to suppress D. citri populations.

An odorant‐binding protein of Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, participates in the response of host plant volatiles

“…Identifying an effective attractant for D. citri can enhance the effectiveness of pesticide managements against this pest and is a prerequisite for developing an attract-and-kill system for the control of D. citri. 37 Many volatiles including linalool, limonene, ⊎-caryophyllene and methyl salicylate have been identified from host plants and have been shown to be attractive to D. citri. 20,21,23,25 For example, an attractant blend of tricosane, geranial, methyl salicylate, geranyl acetone, linalool, phenylacetaldehyde, (E)-⊎-ocimene co-formulated with spinosad insecticide effectively reduced D. citri population density by up to 84% in a small citrus orchard.…”

“…20,21,23,25 For example, an attractant blend of tricosane, geranial, methyl salicylate, geranyl acetone, linalool, phenylacetaldehyde, (E)-⊎-ocimene co-formulated with spinosad insecticide effectively reduced D. citri population density by up to 84% in a small citrus orchard. 37 Numerous host plant volatiles have been used to detect D. citri electrophysiological responses via single sensillum recordings and an attractant blend of myrcene, ethyl butyrate and p-mycene slightly improved field attraction of D. citri to yellow traps. 38 These findings indicate that host plant volatiles have great potential for use as attractants for D. citri.…”

Cultural Management of Huanglongbing: Current Status and Ongoing Research

“…Investigations to find optimum pull plants is active as well (Beloti et al 2017;Tomaseto et al 2016). Attractant lures, as for example those based on pheromones or host volatile cues, are also being investigated to increase captures in trapping devices, which may also contribute to the pull side of the strategy (Martini et al 2020;Zanardi et al 2019).…”

Important alien and potential native invasive insect pests of key fruit trees in Sub-Saharan Africa: advances in sustainable pre- and post-harvest management approaches

“…Efforts are currently underway to evaluate various blends to achieve the same. Recently, (Martini et al 2020) evaluated a multi-component blend composed of Dichloromethane, tricosane, geranial, methyl salicylate, geranyl acetone, 1-tetradecene, linalool, phenylacetaldehyde, (E)-beta-ocimene, dichloromethane and concluded that a formulation of this incorporating Spinosad may be effective in attracting and kill as a management option for D. citri. Also, other blends of terpenes have been evaluated for their efficacy in the management of particularly the African Triozid T. erytreae (Antwi-Agyakwa et al 2019).…”