Volatiles from green‐lipped mussel as a lead to vespid wasp attractants

Abstract

Vespid wasps (Vespula vulgaris L. and V. germanica Fab. Hymenoptera; Vespidae) are highly abundant in 1 million ha of New Zealand's indigenous beech forests (Nothofagus spp.) and have had detrimental effects on the New Zealand native fauna. This hyperabundance is due in part to the vast supply of carbohydrate‐rich honeydew produced by scale insects Ultracoelostoma spp. native to New Zealand. Current control methods include the use of wet cat food as a protein source with insecticide as a lure‐and‐kill‐based system, but there are problems with fresh baits degrading rapidly, and a more durable formulation would enable the expansion and longevity of wasp control. Four crude protein baits were tested for vespid attraction. Green‐lipped mussels had the highest vespid catch of the crude baits tested, and aged and fresh mussels were equally attractive. From headspace analysis of the green‐lipped mussel volatiles, a series of butanoate esters, 3‐octanone and 1‐octen‐3‐ol were identified as possible attractants. These compounds were tested individually and in various blend combinations for the attraction of Vespula wasps in matagouri vegetation at the edge of beech forests. We found synergistic effects between single attractive compounds when tested in various combinations, and the multicomponent lures were more attractive to these wasps than heptyl and octyl butanoate, previously identified attractants for vespid species. The new multicomponent lures could form the basis for a new generation of attractants for social wasps that can provide sustained control methods for invasive vespid wasps.

Attraction of the invasive social wasp, Vespula vulgaris, by volatiles from fermented brown sugar

“…Recent explorations of potential synthetic lures for wasp attraction have identified several strong attractants, including heptyl or octyl butanoate (El‐Sayed et al., ), which were initially found to be attractive to wasps by serendipity while screening for fly attractants (Raveret Richter & Jeanne, ). A recent examination of proteinaceous sources such as mussels (Pteriomophia) (Unelius et al., ), revealed a similar set of alkyl butanoates to the attractants found by Davis et al. ().…”

Foraging niche separation of social wasps in an invaded area: Implications for their management

“…Lures used were comprised by compounds found to be attractive by Unelius et al (), which were purchased (all of ≥98% purity) from Aldrich/SAFC. These compounds were (a) putative wasp pheromone heptyl butanoate, CAS nr: 5870‐93‐9 (Buteler et al, ; Unelius et al, ); (b) from fermented brown sugar: 3‐methylbut‐1‐yl acetate, CAS nr: 123‐92‐2, 2‐methyl‐1‐butanol, CAS nr: 137‐32‐6 (Unelius et al, ); (c) from beech forest honeydew (Brown, El‐Sayed, Unelius, Beggs, & Suckling, ): methyl phenylacetate, CAS nr: 101‐41‐7; (d) from green‐lipped mussel: 1‐octen‐3‐ol, CAS nr: 3391‐86‐4, 3‐octanone, CAS Number: 106‐68‐3 (Unelius et al, ); compounds with stereocenters were tested as racemates.…”

“…Lures used were comprised by compounds found to be attractive by Unelius et al (2015), which were purchased (all of ≥98% purity) from (d) from green-lipped mussel: 1-octen-3-ol, CAS nr: 3391-86-4, 3octanone, CAS Number: 106-68-3 (Unelius et al, 2014); compounds with stereocenters were tested as racemates. GL SL GL SL GL SL GL SL GL SL GL SL Vespula germanica 17 17 30 30 20 20 38 38 25 25 28 28 Vespula vulgaris 16 16 23 23 14 14 15 15 17 17 30 30 Abbreviations: GL, ground level; SL, shrubland level.…”

“…Aldrich/SAFC. These compounds were (a) putative wasp pheromone heptyl butanoate, CAS nr: 5870-93-9(Buteler et al, 2018;Unelius et al, 2014); (b) from fermented brown sugar: 3-methylbut-1-yl acetate, CAS nr: 123-92-2, 2-methyl-1-butanol, CAS nr: 137-32-6; (c) from beech forest honeydew(Brown, El-Sayed, Unelius, Beggs, & Suckling, 2015): methyl phenylacetate, CAS nr: 101-41-7;…”

Enhanced Trapping of Yellowjacket Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) via Spatial Partitioning of Attractants

“…While very little is known about how HB interacts with attractants from meats, recent studies suggest that HB may synergize with protein-derived attractants. For instance, compounds from honey, fermenting brown sugar, scale insect honeydew, and mussels outcompete known attractants when combined [18,19]. Similarly, combinations of acetic acid and volatiles associated with insect prey (hexenal or linalool) synergistically interact [20].…”