Responses of the Pollinating Wasp Ceratosolen solmsi marchali to Odor Variation Between Two Floral Stages of Ficus hispida

During development of figs on Ficus hispida, only the female floral stage is receptive to its pollinator Ceratosolen solmsi marchali. After this stage, the quantity of fig odor decreases. The effects of F. hispida volatiles from receptive figs (figs at the female floral stage, when they are pollinated) and interfloral figs (between the female floral and male floral stages) on their pollinator were studied, together with responses to compounds present in the odor. Odors emitted by both receptive and interfloral figs were attractive to the pollinator. However, wasps preferred the odor of receptive figs to that of interfloral figs even though the quantity of interfloral volatiles increased. Three monoterpenes that included linalool (major constitutent) and two minor compounds limonene and β-pinene from the receptive fig volatiles were used to test the pollinator responses. The levoisomer and racemic mixtures of linalool were attractive to the pollinator at high doses, but the dextroisomer was neutral. (±)-Limonene and (−)-β-pinene at high doses were even less attractive to the pollinator than clean air and were neutral at low doses, while (R)-(+)-, (S)-(−)-limonene were neutral at all doses. In blend tests, all four mixtures of (±)-linalool or (S)-(−)-linalool combined with (±)-limonene or (−)-β-pinene attracted C. solmsi marchali when administered at high doses. (R)-(+)-linalool and (−)-β-pinene enhanced the attractiveness of (S)-(−)-linalool to the pollinator, while enantiomers of limonene did not. These results suggest that both quality and quantity of fig volatiles regulate C. solmsi marchali response and that quality is the main host-finding and floral stage-distinguishing cue for the pollinator. Synergistic effects of some compounds may play a role in enhancing attractiveness of the active compounds.     

Multicomponent sex pheromone inMacrocentrus grandii Goidanich (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

A multicomponent sex pheromone inMacrocentms grandii Goidanich (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was demonstrated using wind-tunnel and field bioassays. In wind-tunnel bioassays, three Florisii fractions from female wasps (hexane, 5%, and 50% ether in hexane) and one from male wasps (50% ether in hexane) were attractive to males. The hexane and 5% ether in hexane fractions each elicited similar male behavioral responses. These included upwind anemotaxis, casting, landing on the source, wing fanning, and mating attempts between males. The 50% ether in hexane fraction, whether male- or female-derived, initiated a strong flight response by males but few landings on the source. In addition, the 50% ether in hexane fraction was found to synergize strongly the hexane fraction. All females tested in the wind tunnel gave no responses to male- or female-derived extracts. Field tests generally supported the wind-tunnel results, although no field attraction was observed for the 5% ether in hexane fraction.     

Responses of fig wasps to host plant volatile cues

Fig wasps (Chalcidoidea; Agaonidae) are intimately associated with the 750 or so species of fig trees (Ficus, Moraceae). Each tree species is usually pollinated by a single species of wasp belonging to the subfamily Agaoninae, while other wasps of the family are parasitoids or seed predators. Previous experiments have shown that the wasps are attracted to the trees by volatiles emanating from the figs. Using fig-bearing trees and arrays of sticky traps baited with figs, we investigated the specificity of wasp attraction and its timing. The pollinators of two closely relatedFicus species were specifically attracted to figs of their host species and only at the time when figs were ready to be pollinated. Some nonpollinating fig wasps appear to respond to the same volatile cues.     

Identification of male cabbage looper sex pheromone attractive to females

A multicomponent pheromone produced by male cabbage looper moths that is attractive to female moths in a flight tunnel bioassay was isolated and identified. Based on analyses of hairpencil extracts of male cabbage loopers and volatiles emitted by males, the pheromone has been identified as a blend consisting of (S)-(+)-linalool,p-cresol, andm-cresol. The chirality of the major component, (S)-(+)-linalool, is important for behavioral response of females. These pheromonal compounds were also identified as volatiles released by males when males were exposed to the principal pheromone component of female cabbage loopers, (Z)-7-dodecen-1-ol acetate. The amount of male pheromone released was increased significantly when males were exposed to a combination of (Z)-7-dodecen-1-ol acetate and the odor from cabbage. Neither linalool nor the cresols were detected in volatiles from cabbage or from males exposed to cabbage odor.     

Toxic Effects of Lemon Peel Constituents on Ceratitis capitata

A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the toxicity of lemon peel extracts incorporated into mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata diet. Extracts were obtained with different solvents: diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol. All three extracts were toxic to some extent; the diethyl ether extract was selected for further studies. Ether extracts of lemon peel were prepared weekly over a 2-month period, from fruits collected on the 1st d of the bioassay. Weekly GC-MS and UV analyses of the extracts demonstrated that the concentration of citral and coumarins decreased in the peel after harvest. We conducted a series of bioassays to evaluate the toxicity of the ether extract, and mixtures of this extract with citral, 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin. and linalool incorporated to C. capitata larvae's natural diet (lemon slices endocarp) at a concentration of 250 microg/g of diet. Significant larvicidal activity can be obtained from a fresh lemon peel extract; however, when the extract was obtained from stored lemons, toxicity decreased. Addition of small amounts of citral or 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin, and linalool to the stored lemon peel extract would bring back the toxicity to the rates of fresh lemons extracts. Finally, female adults of C. capitata fed on diets containing additional amounts of ether extract, 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin, and linalool, were exposed to different photoperiods to test for phototoxicity. The treatment was toxic and affected the oviposition capacity of females depending on photoperiod.     

(3R*,5S*,6R*)-3,5-dimethyl-6-(methylethyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyran-2-one,a third sex pheromone component forMacrocentrus grandii (goidanich) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and evidence for its utility at eclosion

The compound (3R^*,5S^*,6R^*)-3,5-dimethyl-6-(methylethyl)-3, 4,5,6-tetrahydropyran-2-one was identified as a sex pheromone component ofM. grandii. Laboratory and field bioassays demonstrated that it elicits flight initiation, upwind anemotaxis, and casting in male wasps. The compound acts synergistically with (Z)-4-tridecenal, a previously identified sex pheromone component of femaleM. grandii, to increase male response to the aldehyde component. The source of the lactone was determined to be the mandibular glands of male and female wasps. At eclosion a majority of male-female and female-only cocoon masses released the lactone and attracted male wasps. Male-only cocoon masses were not attractive at eclosion and the lactone component was either not released or released at below-threshold concentration. Mating was observed to occur following eclosion in laboratory and field studies.     

Attraction ofCarpophilus Spp. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) to volatile compounds present in figs

Various volatile compounds present in ripening figs were attractive toCarpophilus hemipterus, C. mutilatus, C.freemani, andC. lugubris. Field tests demonstrated that traps baited with a mixture of acetaldehyde, ethyl alcohol, and ethyl acetate caught more adultC. hemipterus than those baited with (1) other mixtures involving various combinations of 19 compounds, (2) with 16 single compounds, or (3) with fig paste.This investigation was supported in part by a grant from the California Dried Fig Advisory Board.     

肿柄菊粗提物对线虫毒杀活性的研究

为评价肿柄菊粗提物毒杀线虫的潜力,利用石油醚、乙酸乙酯、二氟甲烷浸泡粉碎的肿柄菊枝叶混合物,经旋转蒸发获得粗提物,通过浸渍法检测了不同粗提物的毒杀线虫活性。结果表明：当浓度为10mg·mL^-1时,石油醚、乙酸乙酯和二氟甲烷粗提物24～72h内对线虫的毒杀效果较弱;当浓度为20mg·mL^-1时,二氯甲烷粗提物毒杀线虫活性最好,处理72h的线虫校正死亡率可达50．6％,乙酸乙酯粗提物和石油醚粗提物毒杀线虫活性均较弱;当浓度为40mg·mL^-1时,毒杀线虫活性大小依次是乙酸乙酯粗提物〉石油醚粗提物〉二氯甲烷粗提物,其中乙酸乙酯粗提物处理72h的线虫校正死亡率达73．6％。表明,对肿柄菊粗提物进行合理的处理、分离、纯化,有望开发出高效低毒、绿色环保的新型杀线虫农药。     

Components of moribund American elm trees as attractants to elm bark beetles,Hylurgopinus rufipes andScolytus multistriatus

Hylurgopinus rufipes male and female beetles were attracted to American elms infected with Dutch elm disease, and to American elms killed by injection of cacodylic acid.H. rufipes was also attracted to solvent extracts of elm, or to Porapak Q-trapped volatiles from elm. The major components of attractive fractions of Porapak Q-trapped volatiles were isolated, identified, and tested in field bioassays. Several artificially compounded mixtures of sesquiterpenes were attractive toH. rufipes, although no bait tested was as attractive as diseased tree controls. Laboratory bioassays withH. rufipes were marginally successful. In laboratory bioassays, nine of 14 sequiterpenes identified from active fractions of Porapak extracts elicited significant response fromScolytus multistriatus male and female beetles: - and -cadinene, -cubebene, -muurolene, and -elemene were most active. However, in field tests, none of the sesquiterpenes alone or in combination significantly attractedS. multistriatus, nor did they significantly enhance the attraction ofS. multistriatus to female-produced pheromone components (4-methyl-3-heptanol [H] and -multistriatin [M]). In other field tests, -cubebene (C) significantly enhanced response ofS. multistriatus to H plus M, but foliage, logs, or chips of healthy elm did not enhance trap catch to HMC.Coleoptera: Scolytidae.     

Mating stimulant of the pine weevilHylobius abietis (L.)

Factors eliciting copulatory behavior in mature maleHylobius abietis were studied in the laboratory. Dead female weevils were sexually attractive, while dead mature males and pentane-extracted female weevils were not. The sexual attractiveness of dead females declined with time after death. Pentane extracts of whole female weevils or of the anterior or posterior parts of their bodies elicited a copulatory response when applied to decoys. In contrast, extracts of hindgut or frass were inactive. Juvenile males were sexually attractive for about four weeks, after which their attractiveness gradually declined. The results indicate that the mating stimulant is present on the body surface of female and juvenile male weevils, and it can be extracted with pentane.     

Pheromonal secretions from glands on the 5th abdominal sternite of hydropsychid and rhyacophilid caddisflies (Trichoptera)

Extracts of different body parts of adult Trichoptera were tested for electrophysiological activity. Extracts of the IVth and Vth abdominal sternites of femaleHydropsyche angustipennis, Rhyacophila nubila, andR. fasciata, containing a paired exocrine gland, elicited significant electroan-tennographic responses when tested on conspecific male antennae. The paired gland occurs also in males of all the species, and inH. angustipennis, extracts from males were more active than female extracts when tested on male antennae. Female and male extracts from all species were analyzed by gas chromatography with simultaneous flame ionization and electroantennographic detection (EAD). EAD-active peaks in female extracts, stimulating male antennae, were identified inH. angustipennis as nonan-2-one; and inR. nubila andR. fasciata as heptan-2-one, heptan-2-ol, nonan-2-one, and nonan-2-ol. EAD-active components from maleH. angustipennis stimulating male antennae were octan-2-one, nonan-2-one (major peak), (Z)-6-nonen-2-one, decan-2-one, and a methylbranched decan-2-one. Female extracts and synthetic mixtures of compounds identified from femaleH. angustipennis andR. fasciata were tested for attractivity in the field. High catches with control traps obscured the results, but a synthetic mixture of the four identified compounds was significantly attractive and not different from female extracts for attracting maleR. fasciata. InH. angustipennis, a synthetic six-component male blend, in which nonan-2-one was the major component, attracted significant numbers of male and femaleH. angustipennis. Extracts of maleR. nubila andR. fasciata contained acetophenone and hexanoic and octanoic acids but did not have any electrophysiological or behavioral activity on either male or female antennae of conspecifics. The occurrence of a female sex pheromone inRhyacophila and an aggregation pheromone inHydropsyche corresponds to earlier described differences in mating behaviors in the Rhyacophilidae and Hydropsychidae.     

A Two-Component Female-Produced Pheromone of the Spider Pholcus beijingensis

Chemical signaling plays an important role in spider sexual communication, yet the chemistry of spider sex pheromones remains poorly understood. Unlike insects and mammals, the identification of spider pheromones has seldom been attempted, and no multicomponent pheromones have been found. Empty webs of sexually receptive females of Pholcus beijingensis were more attractive to male conspecifics as compared to webs of sexually unreceptive females or to mature males. Coincidently, chemical analysis revealed that (E,E)-farnesyl acetate, diisobutyl phthalate, and hexadecyl acetate of the spider webs exhibited higher relative abundances in sexually receptive females than in sexually unreceptive females or males, indicative of possible pheromone components. Two-choice behavioral assays verified that the blend of (E,E)-farnesyl acetate and hexadecyl acetate (w/w: 2:1) attracted males at a dosage equivalent to the amounts of these compounds in one spider web, whereas neither compound alone aroused males. In addition, diisobutyl phthalate (a likely contaminant from contact with plastic) alone or in combination with either of the acetates did not evoke the males’ attraction. The behavioral data suggest that (E,E)-farnesyl acetate and hexadecyl acetate comprise a two-component female-produced sex pheromone in P. beijingensis, the first multicomponent pheromone found in spiders.     

Flight-mediated attraction ofBiprorulus bibax breddin (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to natural and synthetic aggregation pheromone

The attraction of female spined citrus bugs,Biprorulus bibax, to natural and synthetic aggregation pheromone was studied using an olfactometer and a large flight cage. No locomotory response by postdiapause, prereproductive females to heptane extracts of male dorsal abdominal glands (DAGs) (site of pheromone production) was recorded in the olfactometer study. However, postdiapause, prereproductive females showed significant attraction to sites baited with DAG extracts in the flight cage (1.9–3.0 times that of unbaited sites). Prereproductive and reproductive females showed greatest attraction to sites baited with a synthetic blend of pheromone [(3R,4S,1E-3,4-bis(1-butenyl)tetrahydro-2-furanol, linalool, farnesol, nerolidol] (2.3–4.7 times the attraction of unbaited sites). Females also responded significantly to sites baited with the hemiacetal major component alone (1.7–2.2×). Diapausing females collected from fall populations did not respond to natural or synthetic pheromone baits. Potential applications of the synthetic aggregation pheromone are discussed with respect toB. bibax management.     

Female Sex Pheromone of Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Blend Optimization

The brinjal fruit and shoot borer, Leucinodes orbonalis is the major pest of eggplant in South Asia. Analysis of female pheromone gland extracts prepared from insects of Indian and Taiwanese origin confirmed (E)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (E11-16:Ac) as the major pheromone component with 0.8 to 2.8% of the related (E)-11-hexadecen-1-ol (E11-16:OH), as previously reported from Sri Lanka. The average quantity of E11-16:Ac extracted per female was estimated to be 33 ng, with a range of 18.9 to 46.4 ng when collected 2 to 3 hr into the scotophase. In field trials conducted in India, blends containing between 1 and 10% E11-16:OH caught more male L. orbonalis than E11-16:Ac alone. At the 1000 g dose, on white rubber septa, addition of 1% E11-16:OH to E11-16:Ac was found to be more attractive to male L. orbonalis than either 0.1 or 10% E11-16:OH. Trap catch was found to be positively correlated with pheromone release rate, with the highest dose tested, 3000 g, on white rubber septa catching more male moths than lower doses. Field and wind tunnel release rate studies confirmed that E11-16:OH released from white rubber septa and polyethylene vials at approximately twice the rate of E11-16:Ac and that the release rate of both compounds was doubled in polyethylene vials compared to white rubber septa. This difference in release rate was reflected in field trials conducted in Bangladesh where polyethylene vial dispensers caught more male moths than either black or white rubber septa, each loaded with the same 100 : 1 blend of E11-16:Ac and E11-16:OH in a 3000 g loading.     

Behavior of neonate diamondback moth larvae [Plutella xylostella (L.)] on leaves and on extracted leaf waxes of resistant and susceptible cabbages

NeonatePlutella xylostella moved more rapidly, spent more time walking, and engaged in searching behaviors more often on leaves of NY 8329, a resistant cabbage with glossy leaves, than on Round-Up, a susceptible variety with normal wax bloom. The neonates also spent significantly more time palpating and more time biting and spinning silk on the susceptible cabbage (although the latter two differences were not significant). Very similar differences in neonate behavior occurred on leaf surface wax extracts (hexane and dichloromethane) of the two cabbage genotypes. Leaf surface waxes are thus strongly implicated in eliciting reduced acceptance of the glossy cabbage by neonateP. xylostella. The chemical compositions of the leaf wax extracts were markedly different. Several compounds, including the triterpenols- and-amyrin, were found only in the glossy waxes. The percentages of some major wax constituents differed between wax extracts of the two cabbage types. These differences in wax composition may condition the plant resistance in glossy types.     

Biological activity of (3R,5S,6R)- and (3S,5R,6S)-3,5-dimethyl-6-(methylethyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyran-2-one,a pheromone ofMacrocentrus grandii (Goidanich) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

In a previous study we reported identification of (3R*,5S*,6R*)-3,5-dimethyl-6-(methylethyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyran-2-one as a component of the pheromone ofMacrocentrus grandii Goidanich. The lactone was present in male and female wasps, and laboratory and field bioassays demonstrated that both sources of the lactone elicit flight initiation, upwind anemotaxis, and casting in male wasps. In the present study, the synthetic (3R,5S,6R)- and (3S,5R,6S)-lactone enantiomers (RSR andSRS, respectively) were bioassayed for biological activity. In wind tunnel studies theSRS enantiomer elicited flight initiation, upwind anemotaxis, and casting by male wasps comparable to lactone derived from male and female wasps. Flight response to theRSR enantiomer averaged 14 percent of theSRS enantiomer. No specific ratio of the stereoisomers was found more attractive than theSRS enantiomer alone. Field studies demonstrated theSRS enantiomer was active alone in attracting male wasps. When paired with (Z)-4-tridecenal (a previously identified female-derived sex pheromone), theSRS enantiomer yielded a synergistic response comparable to (Z)-4-tridecenal plus female-derived lactone.     

Evidence for sex pheromones produced by males and females inBlatta orientalis (Dictyoptera,Blattidae)

Males and females ofBlatta orientalis produce a volatile sex pheromone attractive at a distance. The male initiates courtship behavior by adopting a calling posture while emitting his sex pheromone. He exposes the anterior region of his tergites by stretching his abdomen horizontally. Morphological observations show the existence of male tergal glands on the anterior region of tergites 1 to 8. Behavioral assays of females utilizing methylene chloride extracts of various male body parts reveal that extracts of the anterior region of tergites are highly attractive and induce more positive responses that any other body part. Once near the male, the attracted female opens widely her genital atrium thus exposing her atrial glands. Behavioral assays reveal that these atrial glands are certainly the site of production of the female sex pheromone.     

Olfactory responses of adultTribolium castaneum (Herbst), to volatiles of wheat and millet kernels,milled fractions,and extracts

Olfactory responses of 72- to 96-hr-old, 24-hr starved adult male, female, or mixed-sex groups of the red flour beetle,Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), to volatiles from wheat and millet kernels, certain milled fractions, and solvent extracts were recorded by using a lightsensitive apparatus. Wheat-germ volatiles from intact germ or solvent extracts were generally more attractive than volatiles of wheat endosperm or wheat bran. Volatiles of whole wheat kernels were the least attractive among test materials of wheat origin, whereas there were no significant differences among whole wheat flour, germ, and endosperm. Wheat-germ extracts, however, were more attractive than were extracts of the other fractions. Whole millet flour or fermented millet flour volatiles were more attractive than those from whole millet kernels or millet starch. Beetles reached maximum responsiveness to grain volatiles by 72–96 hr after adult ecdysis. Groups of virgin female beetles generally were more responsive than male or mixed-sex groups to volatiles of substances tested.Contribution 82–137-j, Department of Entomology, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station (Project Hatch 322), Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.     

Semiochemicals from the Predatory Stink Bug Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff): Components of Metathoracic Gland, Dorsal Abdominal Gland, and Sternal Gland Secretions

Volatile compounds from the metathoracic glands (MTG), dorsal abdominal glands (DAG), and sternal setae of the generalist predatory stink bug Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff) were studied by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. MTGs of both male and female bugs contained (E)-2-decenal as the major component, with lesser amounts of (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, (E,Z)-2,4-decadienal, and (E)-2,9-decadienal. The relative amount of (E)-2,9-decadienal in the MTGs of female bugs was higher than in male bugs. There was no dimorphism in the morphology of the DAGs of adults. However, the DAG contents of adult bugs were different between the sexes. Geraniol was found only in the DAGs of males, and limonene and -terpineol were found only in the DAGs of females, whereas linalool oxide isomers, linalool, neral, and geranial were found in DAGs of both sexes. The DAG contents of nymphs were also analyzed, with 4-oxo-(E)-2-hexenal, 4-oxo-(E)-2-octenal, tridecane, and tetradecanal being major components. Male bugs but not females possess sternal setae, and 6,10,13-trimethyltetradecyl isovalerate was detected from extracts of the sternal setae of males. The possible biological significance of dimorphism in the contents of the glands in adults is discussed.     

(Z)-4-Tridecenal,a pheromonally active air oxidation product from a series of (Z,Z)-9,13 dienes inMacrocentrus grandii Goidanich (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

(Z)-4-Tridecenal was identified as a sex pheromone component ofMacrocentrus grandii, a larval parasitoid of the European corn borer. The aldehyde was found to be a common air oxidation product from a series of (Z,Z)-9,13-dienes of 27–33, 35, 37, 39, and 41 carbon atoms in female wasps. Synthetic (Z)-4-tridecenal and (Z,Z)-9,13-heptacosdiene each elicited flight initiation, upwind anemotaxis, casting, landing on the source, walking, wing fanning, and copulatory attempts by male wasps in a wind-tunnel. Field studies demonstrated that both compounds are synergized by a more polar component. Synthetic (E)-4-tridecenal was not attractive.