Attractants for the gravid Queensland fruit fly Dacus tryoni

The vapours of certain pure chemicals, typical of ripe fruits, elicited characteristic components of ovipositional behaviour from gravid Dacus tryoni (Froggat) in an olfactometer: the flies walked and flew upwind to the source of the vapour and then probed with their ovipositors. A range of alcohols, acids, ketones and esters having 2–6 carbon atoms were effective (1 and 10% of iso-butyric acid, n-butyric acid, methyl butyrate, ethyl butyrate, 2-butanone, ethyl lactate and ethyl acetate; and 10% concentrations of ethanol and 2-propanone). The most effective were 4–6 carbon acids, esters and ketones. Behavioural threshold for n-butyric acid vapour at 26°C was obtained from a 5×10^–3% dilution in paraffin oil; maximum fly response occurred at about 200 times this concentration. Low concentrations of the 15-carbon sesquiterpene, -farnesene, were also very effective, despite its lower volatility. These results suggest that at least three different types of alfactory sensory neurones are involved in the identification of fruit attractants by gravid D. tryoni.     

Ontogeny of queen attraction to workers in the antCataglyphis cursor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Summary The behaviour ofCataglyphis cursor workers towards queens at 15 days, one month or two months after worker emergence was tested. Workers reared entirely with their own maternal queen were tested with this queen or with an unfamiliar alien queen. Workers transferred within 48 h of emerging to a new definitive nest with an alien queen were tested with this queen or with the original maternal queen. The degree of attraction to each of these queens and the workers' behavioural repertoire were measured and analysed. The results showed the following: 1) The attractiveness of queens and the workers' queen recognition behaviour were linked. 2) Although unfamiliar alien queens hardly attract workers, familiar alien queens were as attractive as maternal queens, and induced the same strongly marked and unique worker response, indicating that workers learn queen attractant cues in the days immediately after emergence. 3) Agonistic reactions were observed, but workers continued to be attracted to their maternal queen even after developing an attraction response to an alien queen with which they had been reared. These results agree with the proposal that queens produce two kinds of pheromones, those that attract workers and those that mediate recognition of queens by workers. These results show the ability of workers to discriminate between queens. Workers are attracted to any queen, but recognize as nestmates only maternal or alien queens with which they have been maintained. 4) The differential in worker attraction and recognition from 15 days to 2 months and its modifications by post-imaginal experience illustrate worker behavioural ontogeny, which is a basis of social discrimination.     

Responses of male winter moths (Operophtera brumata) to their sex attactant (3Z,6Z,9Z)-1,3,6,9 nonadecatetraene and to some structural analogues

Conclusion (3Z,6Z,9Z)-1,3,6,9-nonadecatetraene, the synthetic sex pheromone of the female of O. brumata is highly active in attracting males of this species in the field (Germany and Switzerland). No analogous compounds possessing attractivity to O. brumata males have been found up to now, nor did they show any inhibitory effects to the same species.Therefore (3Z,6Z,9Z)-1,3,6,9-nonadecatetraene (I) can be recommended as a good attractant in the prognosis or monitoring of this lepidopteran pest.     

A two-component sex attractant for males of the geometrid moth Alsophila quadripunctata

The binary mixture of the hydrocarbons (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-nonadecatriene and (6Z,9Z)-6,9-nonadecadiene is a sex attractant for males of Alsophila quadripunctata Esp. (Lepidoptera, Geometridae). Triene/diene ratios from 1:1 to 1:0.01 attracted males in the field, the ratios 1:1 and 1:0.7 were most effective. The triene on its own also attracted males, but in significantly lower numbers than the 1:1 mixture. In a dosage test the highest dose, 1800 g of 1:0.8 [triene:diene] mixture applied to rubber caps was most effective. This is the first report of a geometrid sex attractant with field activity containing more than one component.

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Zusammenfassung Die binäre Mischung der Kohlenwasserstoffe (3Z,6Z,9Z)-3,6,9-Nonadecatrien [ZZZ3,6,9-19:H] und (6Z,9Z)-6,9-Nonadecadien [ZZ6,9-19:H] in den Verhältnissen 1:1 bis 1:0.01 erwies sich im Freiland als Sexuallockstoff für Männchen von Alsophila quadripunctata (Geometridae, Lepidoptera). Dabei besaß die 1:1-Mischung die beste Fängigkeit, das Nonadecatrien allein lockte schlechter, während das C₁₉-Alkadien unwirksam war. Ein Dosiswirksamkeitstest ergab bei Köderbeladungen von 1.8 mg (Trien:Dien + 1:0.8) die besten Fangergebnisse. Im Verlauf der Untersuchungen wurden weitere zwölf geometrische-oder positionsisomere C₁₉-Polyenkohlenwasserstoffe getestet, wobei keine der geprüften Verbindungen Attraktant-oder Inhibitorwirkung zeigte.

     

Preliminary study of female-targeted semiochemical baits for the western corn rootworm in Europe

Abstract:  In recent years emphasis of semiochemical research on the western corn rootworm (WCR) ( Diabrotica v. virgifera LeConte, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) shifted towards the development of more female-specific lures. Through identifying volatile compounds from maize silk, Hammack (J. Chem. Ecol., 27, 2001,1373) claimed that some combinations of the newly identified compounds were more powerful in attracting females than the conventional floral baits (based on 4-methoxycinnamaldehyde). Earlier we found that the newly developed 'hat' trap design (KLP) when baited with the floral bait was especially suitable for the capture of female WCR. Encouraged by this we set out to compare efficiency of female-targeted Diabrotica baits. None of the treatments tested captured females in higher percentage than the conventional WCR floral bait (4-methoxycinnamaldehyde + indole). The combination of β -ionone + methyl salicylate +  β -caryophyllene (attractant found to be more female-specific in the USA previously) was not more attractive for females than unbaited controls. No other treatment produced significantly higher female percentages than the conventional floral bait. However, the conventional bait caught far more beetles than any of the other treatments. Electroantennographic responses from male or female antennae were very similar, suggesting that all 27 floral compounds tested were perceived similarly by the two sexes. The only exception was β -ionone, to which females were slightly more responsive. It seemed that among the other compounds none showed potential for the development of a more female-specific lure. In conclusion, so far the most efficient female-targeted trap-bait combination for WCR in Europe is the conventional floral attractant applied in KLP traps.     

Plant odours with potential for a push–pull strategy to control the onion thrips, Thrips tabaci

We compared the efficacy of four plant essential oils to repel onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (Lindeman) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in the presence of an attractive odour, ethyl iso‐nicotinate in a pasture field. Four horizontal white sticky plates were placed adjacent to (directions: N, S, E, W) a central horizontal white plate (C). After 24 h, in the treatment combination where the four plates were sprayed with essential oil surrounding a central sticky plate sprayed with ethyl iso‐nicotinate, fewer onion thrips were found on the plates treated with sweet marjoram [Origanum majorana L. (Labiatae)] or clove basil [Ocimum gratissimum L. (Labiatae)] (87 and 71% less, respectively) compared to the control treatment of four water‐sprayed plates surrounding a central plate with ethyl iso‐nicotinate. We also compared the distribution of onion thrips on the plates. Relative thrips numbers on each plate were compared with similar (N, S, E, W, and C) plates in the control treatment. There were relatively lower thrips numbers on the south (23% reduction) and west (26% reduction) O. majorana‐treated plates and higher numbers (37% increase) on the central attractant‐treated plate indicating a short‐distance push–pull effect. When four plates were sprayed with the thrips attractant surrounding a central sticky plate sprayed with an essential oil or water (control), only O. majorana reduced the number of thrips on the attractant‐sprayed plates (62% reduction). The distribution of thrips on the different plates within this treatment combination did not change substantially when compared to the distribution in the water‐control treatment. Other essential oils tested (wormwood [Artemisia arborescens L. (Compositae)]) and tea tree [Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden. & Betche.) Cheel. (Myrtaceae)]) were not effective in any of the treatments. It appears that O. majorana is a promising thrips repellent which could be used for further testing in a push–pull system with the attractant ethyl iso‐nicotinate. The field setup used also proved to be a valuable tool for evaluating the potential of repellents to control onion thrips.     

Ant cues affect the oviposition behaviour of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Africa

Abstract. Although most studies on fruit fly oviposition behaviour focus on horizontal interactions with competitors and cues from host plants, vertical interactions with predators are poorly documented. The present study provides direct evidence indicating that the oviposition behaviour of the two main mango fruit fly species, Ceratitis cosyra (Walker) and Bactrocera invadens Drew‐Tsurata & White, is affected by secretions of the dominant arboreal ant Oecophylla longinoda (Latreille). When offered ant‐exposed and unexposed mangoes in the absence of the ants, both fly species are reluctant to land on ant‐exposed fruits and, when having landed, often take off quickly and fail to oviposit. The number of puparia collected from unexposed mangoes is approximately eight‐fold higher than from ant‐exposed ones. The results obtained from laboratory experiments and field observations confirm that adult fruit flies are more affected through repellence by ant cues than by direct predation. The use of cues by fruit flies in predator avoidance has implications for evolutionary ecology, behavioural ecology and chemical ecology.     

Evidence for male- and juvenile-specific contact pheromones of the common bed bug Cimex lectularius

Males and females of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Heteroptera: Cimicidae), have been shown to produce and respond to an aggregation pheromone. We tested whether juvenile C. lectularius also produce and respond to aggregation pheromone, and whether the pheromone is perceived by contact chemoreception. In dual‐choice laboratory experiments, juveniles, but not males or females, preferred juvenile‐exposed paper discs to control discs. Unlike juveniles, males and females preferred male‐exposed paper discs to control discs. Neither juveniles, males, nor females preferred female‐exposed discs to control discs. When test stimuli were inaccessible, C. lectularius failed to show any preference. Male‐ and juvenile‐specific contact pheromones may have contrasting functions of marking shelters as safe refugia for development and growth (juveniles) or mate encounter (adults), but result in the same phenomenon, the aggregation of conspecifics.     

Sequestration of 3-oxygenated α-ionone derivatives in the male rectal gland of the solanaceous fruit fly, Bactrocera latifrons

The solanaceous fruit fly, Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), infests various solanaceous fruits including eggplant and chili peppers. We found that a freshly cut fruit of an eggplant cultivar [ Solanum melongena L. cv. Long Purple Oriental (Solanaceae)] selectively attracted and provoked voracious feeding behavior in adult B. latifrons males (but not in females) in an indoor test. One of the male-specific attractants/feeding stimulants in eggplant was identified as 3-hydroxy-α-ionone. Sexually mature males that fed on the eggplant pulp selectively accumulated a series of 3-oxygenated α-ionone/α-ionol analogs (e.g., 3-oxo-α-ionol and 3-oxo-7,8-dihydro-α-ionol) in the rectal gland, a suspected pheromone reservoir in male flies. Males fed on synthetic 3-hydroxy-α-ionone, 3-oxo-α-ionol, or 3-oxo-α-ionone partially biotransformed the compounds into 3-oxo-α-ionol, 3-oxo-α-ionone, and 3-oxo-7,8-dihydro-α-ionol and sequestered substantial quantities (as high as 5 µg/gland as a mixture) in a similar ratio in the rectal gland within 6 h after ingestion. These results suggest that the rectal sequestrates may serve as a sex pheromone similar to other Bactrocera species that use phenylpropanoid volatiles to attract conspecific females.