松墨天牛对不同生理状态黑松挥发物的触角电生理和行为反应

用水蒸气蒸馏法结合气相色谱以及气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析了黑松的健康木和松材线虫危害木中的挥发性物质,并利用触角电位和嗅觉仪测定技术比较分析了松墨天牛对黑松健康木和被害木挥发物的触角电生理和行为反应特点及其对健康木挥发物的日龄变化规律.结果表明,未交配天牛对健康木挥发物的EAG反应值大于被害木,已交配天牛对被害木EAG反应值显著大于健康木;15日龄前的EAG反应值随日龄的增加而升高.在“Y”型嗅觉仪中,未交配天牛对健康木挥发物表现为正趋性,对被害木挥发物表现为负趋性;而已交配天牛对被害木挥发物表现为正趋性,对健康木挥发物表现为负趋性;雌天牛随着日龄的增加对健康木挥发物的正趋性逐渐增强,在15日龄时达到最大,雄天牛在9日龄时正趋性最强.说明不同发育时期的松墨天牛成虫对不同生理状态的黑松具有不同的敏感性和选择性.     

绿豆象成虫对绿豆豆荚挥发物的触角电位和行为反应

【目的】探究对绿豆象Callosobruchus chinensi有引诱作用的植物挥发性物质。【方法】采用触角电位(EAG)仪和Y型嗅觉仪分别测定了绿豆象成虫对绿豆Vigna radiata豆荚挥发物的触角电位和选择行为反应。【结果】EAG测定结果表明,已交配的绿豆象雌虫对23种绿豆豆荚挥发物的EAG反应值存在显著差异,对苯甲醛、2-己烯醛、己醛、辛醛和水杨醛5种醛类化合物的EAG反应值相对较高,其中对2-己烯醛的反应值最大,达20.68;且绿豆象成虫EAG反应值在1~100μg/μL浓度下,均随挥发物浓度的提高而增强,但已交配和未交配绿豆象雌雄成虫的EAG反应值无显著差异。行为试验发现,当5种醛类物质浓度达100μg/μL时,已交配绿豆象雌、雄成虫均对苯甲醛和2-己烯醛有显著正趋性,对己醛有显著负趋性,对辛醛和水杨醛无显著趋性。【结论】绿豆豆荚挥发物中2-己烯醛和苯甲醛与绿豆象偏爱选择密切相关。     

云斑天牛对10种植物挥发物的EAG和行为反应

【目的】为了探明对云斑天牛Batocera lineolata Chevrolat成虫具有行为导向的寄主植物挥发物对成虫行为反应的影响。【方法】采用触角电位(EAG)和"Y"型嗅觉仪技术,测定云斑天牛成虫(未交配雌虫、未交配雄虫、已交配雌虫)对10种寄主植物挥发物的电生理和行为反应。【结果】所选化合物在特定浓度下,均能引起云斑天牛成虫较为明显的EAG反应,浓度为100μg/μL时,云斑天牛成虫对所测试的植物挥发物的EAG反应最强,其中未交配雌、雄及已交配雌虫对(Z)-3-己烯-1-醇的EAG反应相对值均为最大,分别达2.35、2.31和2.22。行为反应生测中,(Z)-3-己烯-1-醇对未交配雌、雄虫可产生明显的引诱作用,芳樟醇则对两者具有明显的趋避作用,而已交配雌虫对所有化合物均无明显趋性。【结论】试验结果可为开发对其有效的林间引诱剂提供一定的理论依据。     

法国冬青和光皮桦挥发物日节律及云斑天牛的触角电位反应

采用Tenax-TA吸附剂吸附法结合气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分析了法国冬青和光皮桦的健康株和云斑天牛危害株挥发性物质的日节律变化,并利用触角电位技术比较分析了云斑天牛未交配雌、雄虫对法国冬青和光皮桦挥发物的触角电位(EAG)反应.结果表明:法国冬青被取食后柠檬烯、壬醛、十六烷、丙烯酸丁酯和3-甲基丁酸的含量减少,光皮桦被取食后新己烷和十六烷的含量减少;而法国冬青和光皮桦被取食后新合成了异十二烯、辛醇、吲哚、癸醛、己醛和丙烯菊酯等物质.云斑天牛未交配雌、雄成虫对光皮桦被害株挥发物的EAG反应值最大,分别为1.23和1.38 mV;对法国冬青健康株挥发物的EAG反应值最小,分别为0.95和1.01 mV.不同时段,成虫对12:00—14:00挥发成分的EAG反应值最低,与成虫野外取食行为多发生在清晨和傍晚相一致.     

云斑白条天牛对核桃、桉树的趋向性和EAG反应

云斑白条天牛Batocera lineaolata严重危害核桃树和桉树,是一种寄主范围较广的蛀干害虫。本研究通过弄清云斑白条天牛对核桃和桉树两种寄主树种挥发物的行为反应差异,为利用信息素监测和防治云斑白条天牛提供理论依据。本研究采用触角电位(EAG)反应和"Y"型嗅觉仪技术测定了云斑白条天牛对寄主核桃和桉树各部位挥发物的趋向性和EAG反应。结果表明:核桃种群的云斑白条天牛成虫对核桃树皮、叶片和嫰枝挥发物的趋向率均高于桉树相应部位挥发物的趋向率。雌性天牛交尾后对核桃树皮的选择性显著高于交尾前对核桃树皮的选择性;相反,雄性天牛交尾后对核桃树皮的选择性显著低于交尾前对核桃树皮的选择性。核桃种群云斑白条天牛成虫对核桃和桉树的树皮、嫰枝和叶片的挥发物均有较强的EAG反应;其中,雌性天牛对核桃树皮挥发物的EAG反应值显著高于雄虫的EAG反应值;未交尾雄虫对桉树嫰枝挥发物的EAG反应值显著高于核桃嫰枝的EAG反应值。可见,来源于核桃种群的云斑白条天牛更趋向于选择核桃,性别和交尾与否对其趋向性和EAG反应也存在一定影响。     

松阿扁叶蜂对不同树种挥发物的触角电位反应

用MS302生物信号记录分析系统,以顶端记录法测定松阿扁叶蜂成虫对不同树种挥发性物质的EAG反应。结果显示,该蜂成虫对其嗜好的油松、赤松、华山松挥发物的EAG反应敏感,雌成虫放电频率分别为45.2次/s、42.1次/s、42.3次/s,电位值依次为1 022 mV、1.139 mV、0.706 mV, 但对其非寄主树种的侧柏挥发物反应微弱,对空气无反应。雌成虫对油松挥发物的不同气流量17 mL/s、17 mL/s、85 mL/s的放电频率和电位值分别为24.8次/s、45.2次/s、46.6次/s和0.533 mV、1.022 mV、1.316 mV,表明EAG反应程度因挥发物气流量浓度不同而变化。触角电位与选择性行为的测试结果基本一致,表明松阿扁叶蜂在寄主选择过程中,触角的嗅觉功能起着重要作用。     

星天牛对青皮垂柳挥发物的电生理及行为反应

【目的】考察星天牛Anoplophora chinensis对不同生理状态青皮垂柳Salix ohsidare挥发物的选择偏好性,深入探究星天牛对虫害青皮垂柳与健康青皮垂柳行为选择差异的原因。【方法】利用动态顶空吸附法,分别收集虫害和健康两种生理状态下的青皮垂柳枝条挥发物,通过气相色谱 质谱联用仪(GC-MS)对收集的挥发物样品进行鉴定与分析,采用触角电位仪(EAG)和Y型嗅觉仪分别分析星天牛对挥发物样品中鉴定的主要化合物的标准化合物的电生理以及行为反应,通过大笼行为实验和林间诱捕试验分析单一挥发性化合物及其双组分和三组分配方对星天牛成虫的诱捕效果。【结果】健康青皮垂柳枝条挥发物中共鉴定出3种主要化合物,包括α-蒎烯、3-蒈烯和樟脑,而虫害青皮垂柳枝条挥发物中鉴定出5种主要化合物包括α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯、3-蒈烯、β-罗勒烯和樟脑。另外虫害青皮垂柳枝条挥发物中的樟脑含量显著高于健康青皮垂柳枝条中的,3-蒈烯在两种挥发物中含量差异不显著,而健康青皮垂柳枝条挥发物中的α-蒎烯含量显著高于虫害青皮垂柳枝条中的。EAG实验表明,星天牛成虫对α-蒎烯、3-蒈烯和β-罗勒烯3种化合物的EAG反应相对值较高,并且随这3个化合物浓度的升高而逐渐增大;星天牛成虫对β-蒎烯和樟脑的EAG反应相对值差异不大,且这2个化合物浓度变化对EAG反应相对值无明显影响。Y型嗅觉仪实验表明,在1 mg/mL浓度下,α-蒎烯、3-蒈烯和β-罗勒烯吸引星天牛雄成虫数量均显著高于对照组（石蜡油）,β-罗勒烯吸引的星天牛雌成虫数量显著高于对照组;在10 mg/mL浓度下,3-蒈烯吸引的星天牛雄成虫数量显著高于对照组。大笼行为实验表明,三组分虫害配方D(α-蒎烯∶3-蒈烯∶β-罗勒烯=42∶30∶103)、α-蒎烯和β-罗勒烯吸引的星天牛成虫数量最多,显著高于双组分健康配方H(α-蒎烯∶3-蒈烯=105∶38)和3-蒈烯吸引的成虫数量。林间诱捕试验表明,α-蒎烯和虫害配方D对星天牛成虫的诱捕效果最好,诱捕的成虫数显著高于β-罗勒烯和健康配方H诱捕的成虫数,而3-蒈烯和空白对照组没有诱捕到星天牛成虫。【结论】虫害和健康青皮垂柳枝条挥发物中共有的α-蒎烯和虫害青皮垂柳枝条挥发物中特有的β-罗勒烯是对星天牛成虫具有引诱作用的两种重要寄主植物挥发性化合物,而3-蒈烯抑制了α-蒎烯对星天牛成虫的引诱作用。我们推测,虫害青皮垂柳挥发物中特有的β 罗勒烯是造成虫害青皮垂柳比健康青皮垂柳更容易受到星天牛危害的原因之一。     

金龟甲对蓖麻叶挥发物的触角电位和行为反应

为了探明金龟甲偏爱选择有害非寄主植物蓖麻的原因,应用触角电位（EAG）仪和“Y”型嗅觉仪,分别测定了华北大黑鳃金龟、暗黑鳃金龟和铜绿丽金龟雌、雄虫对5种蓖麻叶挥发物的触角电位和选择行为反应。EAG测定结果表明,3种金龟甲雄虫对各处理挥发物的EAG反应值均比参照挥发物顺-3-己烯-1-醇强。华北大黑鳃金龟对邻苯二甲酸二丁酯和肉桂醛的EAG反应值相对较高,暗黑鳃金龟对苯甲醇的EAG反应值相对较高,铜绿丽金龟对邻苯二甲酸二丁酯和苯甲醇的EAG反应值相对较高。选择行为反应测定结果表明,当顺-3-己烯-1-醇与其他挥发物配对测试时,华北大黑鳃金龟对邻苯二甲酸二丁酯和肉桂醛2种蓖麻叶挥发物表现出明显的选择偏好,暗黑鳃金龟对蓖麻叶挥发物苯甲醇表现出明显的选择偏好,铜绿丽金龟则更偏好选择蓖麻的绿叶气味物质顺-3-己烯-1-醇。总之,蓖麻叶的挥发性物质与引诱金龟甲偏爱选择密切相关,且偏爱的挥发物因金龟甲的种类而异。     

瓢虫和草蛉对小麦挥发物组分的行为及电生理反应

利用触角电位（electroantennogram, EAG）和嗅觉测定技术,比较分析了4种捕食性天敌昆虫七星瓢虫Coccinella septempunctata、龟纹瓢虫Propylaea japonica、中华通草蛉Chrysoperla sinica和大草蛉Chrysopa septempunctata对麦蚜取食诱导小麦挥发物的行为和电生理反应,揭示了瓢虫及草蛉类天敌昆虫的嗅觉反应特点。4种捕食性天敌昆虫对麦蚜取食诱导挥发物都有较高的EAG反应值,七星瓢虫和龟纹瓢虫对6-甲基-5_庚烯-2-酮、6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-醇的反应值较大;中华通草蛉和大草蛉对6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-醇和水杨酸甲酯的反应值较大,七星瓢虫对6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-醇的反应值最大,为0.96±0.18 mV;4种天敌昆虫对苯甲醛的EAG反应值较低,对反-2-己烯醛无反应。“Y”型管嗅觉测定结果表明,4种天敌昆虫对2-莰烯、6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-酮、6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-醇和水杨酸甲酯具有正趋性。说明4种多食性的捕食性天敌昆虫对麦蚜取食诱导挥发物各组分的嗅觉与行为反应各具特点;寄主麦蚜生境中的嗅觉线索在这4种捕食性天敌昆虫的寄主定位和生境选择中起重要作用。     

柑橘凤蝶成虫虫体挥发物成分及触角电位反应研究

[目的]蝴蝶虫体的气味是识别同类和异性的重要信息来源.本研究通过分析柑橘凤蝶Papilio xuthus雌雄蝶羽化后挥发物的变化规律,并比较了未交配雌雄蝶对挥发物的触角电位(EAG)反应,为下一步探讨柑橘凤蝶求偶时嗅觉的利用提供依据.[方法]使用顶空固相微萃取(HS-SPME)提取柑橘凤蝶挥发物,并通过气质联用仪(GC-MS)分析SPME提取物中的主要成分,采用触角电位仪(EAG)测定柑橘凤蝶Papilio xuthus对挥发物的触角电位反应.[结果]雌雄蝶羽化后共检测到14类挥发物,主要包括醇类和酯类,其中酯类、萜类在羽化后均有出现.交配时雌雄蝶均共有且含量较高的挥发物有2种(2-乙基己醇、2-乙基己基乙酸酯),交配时雄蝶特有挥发物仅1种(α-法呢烯),未检测到雌蝶特有的挥发物.柑橘凤蝶雌雄蝶从交配前到交配后,其体内的2-乙基己醇、2-乙基己基乙酸酯和α-法呢烯的含量都变化明显.在交配前及交配时2-乙基己醇和α-法呢烯含量增加,而2-乙基己基乙酸酯的含量减少,表明在交配时,可能有大量的2-乙基己醇、2-乙基己基乙酸酯和c-法呢烯释放到体外.并且未交配雌雄蝶对2-乙基己醇、2-乙基己基乙酸酯和c-法呢烯EAG反应均明显高于对照.[结论]根据雌雄蝶羽化后挥发物变化规律及触角电位试验初步检验,推测2-乙基己醇、2-乙基己基乙酸酯在柑橘凤蝶同种识别及同性识别中起作用,特有的挥发物α-法呢烯在柑橘凤蝶同种异性的识别中起作用.     

Effect of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) nutritional environment, sex, and mating status on response to commercial pheromone traps

Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), the red flour beetle, is an important cosmopolitan pest of stored grains. Commercial traps baited with the synthetic aggregation pheromone 4,8-dimethyldecanal (DMD) are used to monitor T. castaneum population densities in storage facilities. However, trap catches may depend on several intrinsic and extrinsic factors. In this study, we explored the effects of beetle nutritional environment, sex, and mating status on the response of T. castaneum to commercial Storgard Dome traps. Beetles raised on a low-nutrition diet were 1.7 times more likely to enter DMD-baited traps compared with beetles that were raised on a high-nutrition diet. Although no sex difference in trap response was found, unmated beetles of both sexes were more responsive to DMD than were mated beetles, and this effect was especially pronounced for beetles reared on a low-nutrition diet. These results suggest that estimating T. castaneum population densities based on trap catches might be improved by incorporating information about the nutritional quality of infested stored products.     

松墨天牛对寄主树木的产卵选择

在室内采用选择行为方法,研究了松墨天牛Monochamus alternatus对几种松属植物的产卵选择行为。结果表明,松墨天牛对黑松Pinus thunbergii的选择性最强,对马尾松P.massoniana的选择性最弱,二者间差异显著,它们与火炬松P. taeda和湿地松P. elliottii间无明显差异。在黑松和马尾松的被松材线虫危害木与健康木之间,松墨天牛明显选择被害木产卵;具产卵痕枝段和虫粪处理过的枝段,对松墨天牛的产卵有显著抑制作用,松墨天牛明显地选择对照枝段产卵。     

Behavioral and Electroantennogram Responses of Phorid fly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudacteon tricuspis</Emphasis> (Diptera: Phoridae) to Red Imported Fire Ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solenopsis invicta</Emphasis> Odor and Trail Pheromone

The phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis is an introduced parasitoid of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta in the United States. Previous studies show that phorid flies are attracted to host ant workers at disturbed colonies, to colonies exhibiting aggressive interspecific interactions, and to fire ant mating flights. In a series of behavioral and electroantennogram (EAG) experiments, we confirm the possible use of fire ant odor as cues for host location by P. tricuspis. We tested the response of P. tricuspis of different sex and mating status to several host-related odor stimuli including live fire ant workers, extracts of worker whole body, head, thorax, and abdomen, and (E,E)-α-farnesene, a trail pheromone component of Solenopsis fire ants. Results from Y-tube olfactometer bioassays demonstrated the attraction of mated female P. tricuspis to live S. invicta workers. In addition, extracts of S. invicta worker whole body and thorax elicited strong olfactometer response in female flies (mated and unmated) and mated males, but not in unmated males. Pseudacteon tricuspis did not show significant attraction to extracts of S. invicta worker head and abdomen, or to (E,E)-α-farnesene, irrespective of sex and mating status. In EAG experiments, female and male P. tricuspis showed significant EAG response to extracts of worker whole body, head, and abdomen, and to a less extent, thorax extract, but not to (E,E)-α-farnesene. Females showed slightly greater EAG response than males, but EAG response was not affected by mating status. These results suggest that fire ant thorax is likely the source of kairomones used as host location cues by P. tricuspis, and support the hypothesis that fire ant worker trail pheromones are not likely used by P. tricuspis for host location.     

四种鳃金龟对不同植物挥发物的触角电位反应

华北大黑鳃金龟Holotrichia oblita Falderman、暗黑鳃金龟Holotrichia parallela Motschulsky、小黄鳃金龟Metabolus flavescens Brenske和福婆鳃金龟Brahmina faldermanni Kraatz有不同的寄主范围.本研究采用溶剂提取法收集寄主植物玉兰Magnolia denudata Desr.、柿树Diospyros kaki L.f.、金银木Lonicera maackii(Rupr.)Maxim、榆树Ulmus pumila L.、芙蓉葵Hibiscus moscheutos L.、丁香Syzygiumr aromaticum(L.)Merrill&Perry和非寄主植物银杏Ginkgo biloba L.等7种植物叶片粗提物,分别测定4种金龟甲雄、雌虫对这些植物粗提物的触角电位反应.结果表明,4种金龟对共同寄主植物金银木和榆树粗提物均有较强的EAG反应;华北大黑鳃金龟雄虫对寄主植物粗提物的EAG反应均弱于雌虫;小黄鳃金龟雌虫对芙蓉葵粗提物的EAG反应强于雄虫;而另外两种金龟雄、雌虫对同种植物粗提物的EAG反应无显著差异.上述结果说明金龟甲的EAG反应大小与田间发生情况一致.     

芒果不同部位挥发物及横线尾夜蛾对其触角电位反应

【背景】芒果横线尾夜蛾是严重危害芒果花序和嫩梢的重要害虫,其发生面积不断扩大,给我国南方芒果造成了巨大损失。【方法】通过气质联用仪（GC-MS）对芒果花、梢和成熟果实的挥发性物质及其相对含量进行分析;采用触角电生理方法,测定不同性别和交配状态的芒果横线尾夜蛾对12种芒果挥发物的触角电位反应。【结果】芒果3个部位的挥发性物质多为萜烯类化合物,主要物质（相对含量在O．06％以上）的数量分别为芒果花中22种、梢11种和成熟芒果13种。芒果花中含量较高的为d．水芹烯（43．64％）和异松油烯（29．33％）;芒果梢中α-古芸烯（23．63％）含量最高;成熟芒果中8-石竹烯含量最高,为29．47％。仅异松油烯和β-荜澄茄油烯在芒果3个部位中均被检测到,但其含量差异较大;异松油烯在花、梢、果实中的含量分别为29．33％、19．99％、0．59％,而β-荜澄茄油烯分别为3．51％、2．18％、6．05％。芒果横线尾夜蛾未交配雌、雄蛾和已交配雌、雄蛾对同一种化合物的触角电位相对值之间均无显著差异。4种成蛾对反-2-已烯醛的触角电位反应值与其他化合物相比均有显著差异。交配后雌、雄蛾的触角电位反应值均有所降低,但与交配前相比无显著差异。【结论与意义】筛选出的反-2-己烯醛可作为横线尾夜蛾信息素的增效物质,对性引诱剂的研制具有重要意义。本研究可为从化学信号角度阐明横线尾夜蛾寄主定向和雌、雄交配机理,以及其致害机理提供依据。     

不同危害状态下寄主萜烯挥发物含量的变化及松墨天牛对其组分的触角电位反应

用气相色谱-质谱（GC-MS）联用法对5种生理状态（健康、人为物理损伤、饵木、取食和产卵）的马尾松Pinus massoniana和取食危害状态的雪松Cedrus deodara的萜烯进行分析。研究结果显示,5种生理状态下,α-蒎烯在萜烯组分中均占有最高比例。健康状态下马尾松树干和树枝中的萜烯组分不同且含量有显著差异。随着饵木的衰弱进程,α-蒎烯的相对含量显著减少,β-蒎烯的含量显著增加,我们推测,α-蒎烯与β-蒎烯的相对比例越小则寄主树势衰弱的程度越深,其两者比例的变化是马尾松寄主树势衰弱程度变化的一个重要信号。人为物理损伤的马尾松树干与树枝的α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯和β-水芹烯含量差异显著。不同产卵危害程度的马尾松树干萜烯类组分不同,同一产卵危害程度的马尾松树干上部和下部的多数萜烯组分相对含量差异显著,但变化无明显规律。取食危害状态下马尾松和雪松萜烯种类不同且含量差异显著。重度产卵危害马尾松树干与取食危害树枝萜烯中,α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯、柠檬烯和β-水芹烯相对含量差异显著。第13天的饵木与人为物理损伤的马尾松树干的萜烯中,饵木的β-蒎烯和柠檬烯相对百分含量均比人为物理损伤状态的高,而α-蒎烯则相反。α-蒎烯和β-蒎烯在取食危害树枝中的含量显著高于健康树枝,而β-月桂烯、β水芹烯和反式石竹烯在健康状态树枝中的含量显著高于取食危害树枝。除了α-蒎烯和β蒎烯,健康状态与产卵危害状态的马尾松树干萜烯相对含量大都差异显著。α-蒎烯,β-蒎烯和β-水芹烯在人为物理损伤与虫害状态的马尾松树干及树枝中含量差异较大。总之,α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯和β-水芹烯很可能是影响和调节松墨天牛取食和产卵行为最为重要的信号物质。松墨天牛Monochamus alternatus Hope对寄主萜烯的触角电位（EAG）表明,该天牛对β-蒎烯的EAG活性高于其他萜烯,乙醇也能引起较高的EAG反应活性,但总体上对单一萜烯的EAG反应活性不强,且存在雌雄差异。     

Role of host volatiles in mate location by the Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

We evaluated the responses of male and female Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) to various terpenes commonly associated with host trees. Electroantennogram (EAG) tests were conducted with 12 plant volatile compounds and ethanol. Antennae of both sexes were highly sensitive to (R)-(+)-alpha-pinene, (+)-3-carene, (-)-beta-pinene, and terpinolene. Both sexes of M. alternatus were attracted by traps baited with (+)-alpha-pinene, (-)-beta-pinene, (+)-3-carene, or terpinolene. Our results support the first of the three-stage hypothesis posed by Ginzel and Hanks that suggests that location of stressed trees by cerambycids involves three stages: (1) both sexes locate larval hosts by using plant volatiles as kairomones; (2) males produces sex pheromones to attract females after both sexes land on the larval hosts; (3) males and female recognize each other by contract pheromones in their epicuticular wax layer. Males and females showed differences in their EAG responses to several compounds, including (R)-(+)-alpha-pinene, (-)-beta-pinene, myrcene, (+)-3-carene, (R)-(+)-limonene, terpinolene, and trans-caryophyllene. In all cases, males exhibited greater sensitivity than females. In laboratory assays, male M. alternatus showed strong preference for 1% (+)-alpha-pinene and 1% (-)-beta-pinene over other compounds. In field assays, traps baited with (+)-alpha-pinene, (-)-beta-pinene, (+)-3-carene, or terpinolene caught more beetles than control traps. We found strong male bias in beetle catches in baited traps and those captured on the stem of stressed trees despite a strong female bias in emerging beetles in 2004. We hypothesize that male M. alternatus are more responsive than females to plant volatiles and that males have more capacity than females in finding mating locations.     

Mate finding in the forest cockchafer, Melolontha hippocastani, mediated by volatiles from plants and females

The response of the forest cockchafer, Melolontha hippocastani F. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae), towards volatiles emitted by different host plants and conspecifics was tested in field experiments during the flight period at dusk. Funnel traps containing artificially damaged leaves from the host plants Carpinus betulus L. and Quercus rubra L., as well as from the non‐host plant Prunus serotina Ehrh. caught significantly more beetles than empty control traps. On the other hand, traps baited with undamaged leaves from Q. rubra did not catch significantly more beetles than empty controls. Leaves from C. betulus damaged by beetle feeding did not attract more beetles than artificially damaged leaves. By use of gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD) electrophysiological responses of males and females were shown for 18 typical plant volatiles. A synthetic mixture of selected typical green plant volatiles was also highly attractive in the field. A total of 9982 beetles was caught during the field experiments, among them only 33 females. This suggests that attraction to damaged foliage during flight period at dusk is male‐specific. Field experiments testing the attractiveness of female M. hippocastani towards conspecific males by employing caged beetles and beetle extracts indicated that males of M. hippocastani use a female‐derived sex pheromone for mate location. On wired cages containing either unmated feeding females, or unmated females without access to foliage, or feeding males in combination with extracts from unmated females, significantly more males landed during the flight period than on comparable control cages containing feeding males or male extracts. A possible scenario of mate location in M. hippocastani involving feeding‐induced plant volatiles and a female‐derived sex pheromone is discussed.