Attraction of Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) to a Volatile Pheromone: Effects of Release Rate, Host Volatile, and Trap Placement

• Published in: Environmental entomology Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 648 - 656
• Main Authors: Ryall, Krista L, Silk, Peter, J, Mayo, Peter, Crook, Damon, Khrimian, Ashot, Cossé, Allard A, Sweeney, Jon, Scarr, Taylor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Entomological Society of America 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Agrilus planipennis; Animals; antennae; bait traps; bark; bioassays; canopy; Coleoptera - drug effects; dose response; electroantennography; Female; females; field experimentation; Fraxinus - chemistry; Hexanols - pharmacology; Insect Control - instrumentation; Insect Control - methods; isomers; Lactones - pharmacology; leaves; Male; males; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; olfactometers; Ontario; pheromones; Sesquiterpenes - pharmacology; Sex Distribution; sticky traps; Terpenes - pharmacology; Volatile Organic Compounds - pharmacology
• DOI: 10.1603/EN11312
• ISSN: 0046-225X

Attraction of emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, to a volatile pheromone was demonstrated in three field experiments using baited green sticky traps. A dose-response curve was generated for male A. planipennis to increasing release rates of (3Z)-dodecen-12-olide ((3Z)lactone) in combination with the green leaf volatile, (3Z)-hexenol. Only the lowest release rate (<2.50 µg/d) of (3Z)-lactone significantly increased captures of male A. planipennis, as compared with traps baited with (3Z)-hexenol alone. Effect of trap height, (3Z)-lactone, and (3Z)-hexenol and their interactions on the trap capture of A. planipennis was determined in a factorial experiment. Number of males per trap was significantly and positively affected by (3Z)-lactone, (3Z)-hexenol, and trap height whereas number of females per trap was affected by trap height only; none of the interactions were significant. As predicted, the greatest mean catch of males was in traps baited with (3Z)-lactone and (3Z)-hexenol placed high in the canopy. Electroantennogram tests on the bark volatile, 7-epi-sesquithujene, demonstrated the ability of male and female A. planipennis antennae to detect and respond to this compound, particularly the (+)-7-epi-sesquithujene isomer. Results from an olfactometer bioassay and field testing did not demonstrate attraction of either males or females to (+)-7-epi-sesquithujene. These data increase our understanding of the pheromone ecology of the invasive emerald ash borer, provide further confirmation of the behavioral activity of the female-produced lactone pheromone, and should increase the ability to detect A. planipennis infestations where they are present.