Multicomponent attractant for female screwworm flies,Cochliomyia hominivorax,in bovine blood

An olfactometer bioassay was used to follow attractant for screwworm flies,Cochliomyia hominivorax, in steam distillates of bovine blood under different distillation and storage conditions and after HPLC separation of components in a water-methanol gradient. In addition, fly responsiveness was examined in relation to sex and ovarian stage. Gravid and vitellogenic nullipars were attracted to the blood, although the former predominated four to one. Males did not respond at a dose that attracted 76% of gravid females. Maximum attractiveness occurred when distillate was stored in sealed glass ampoules. An argon atmosphere made storage at ambient temperatures feasible, but offered no advantage during storage at ca. –60°C or during distillation. The HPLC separation produced four fractions that duplicated the attractiveness of the distillate when recombined but showed little activity when presented as two-fraction, and most three-fraction, mixtures. Availability of the HPLC fractions for combination with other samples will facilitate location via bioassay of attractant components in samples obtained from subsequent or alternate isolations that preserve only one or two elements of the multicomponent mixture.Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for its use by the USDA.     

Behavioral response of femaleHelicoverpa (Heliothis)armigera HB. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) moths to synthetic pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) kairomone

FemaleH. armigera moths are highly attracted by a steam distillate from pigeonpea plants, one of their main hosts. A mixture of six compounds, all sesquiterpenes (β-caryophyllene,α-humulene,α-guajene,α-muurolene,γ-muurolene, andα-bulnesene), mixed in the proportions as found in the steam distillate, elicited the same behavioral responses (oriented upwind flights and contacts with the odor source) as the steam distillate. Onlyα-bulnesene was attractive by itself, but still less than the whole mixture. In addition, the sesquiterpene mixture acts as an oviposition stimulant. Both behavioral responses, orientation and oviposition, are concentration dependent. Electrophysiological recordings from female and male antennae (EAG) showed the same qualitative and quantitative responses to each of the compounds of the sesquiterpene mixture. The EAG responses to the original steam distillate were higher and similar to chickpea kairomonal components, which were also tested. The pigeonpea sesquiterpene mixture and its individual components elicited weak EAG responses only. The response of the male antenna to female-produced pheromone components was in the same range as the pigeonpea steam distillate.     

Volatiles from Duck Feces Attractive to Mexican Fruit Fly

Aqueous extracts of three types of bird feces were attractive to laboratory-colony Mexican fruit flies in laboratory bioassays. Extracts of black-bellied whistling duck feces were chosen for further analysis. Duck feces extract was attractive to both sugar-fed and sugar-starved flies but was more attractive to sugar-fed flies. Protein deprivation of flies had no effect on their response. Duck feces incubated in water for 24 hr were more attractive than those incubated for longer periods. Duck feces extract was attractive at pH 5–9, but was most attractive at pH 9, indicating that more than one class of chemicals contributed to attractiveness of the feces. Major components of headspace of duck feces extracts collected by solid-phase microextraction and identified by GC-MS, GC-FID, and GC-FTD included ethanol, propanol, phenol, ammonia, low-molecular weight amines, and pyrazines. In general, chemicals containing nitrogen proved most attractive to sugar-fed flies. However, dimethylamine and 1-pyrroline were nearly equally attractive to sugar-fed and sugar-deprived flies. Two chemicals without nitrogen were attractive to sugar-deprived flies; none were attractive to sugar-fed flies. A synthetic mixture was prepared containing ammonia, methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, 1-pyrroline, phenol, and 2-ethylhexanol in amounts found in odor of duck feces extract. The synthetic mixture was 96% as attractive as duck feces extract to sugar-fed flies and 80% as attractive to sugar-deprived flies.     

Attractancy toOryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) of volatile materials isolated from vacuum distillate of heat-treated carobs

Vacuum distillation of heat-treated carobs gave an aqueous, colorless, sweet-smelling distillate which was tested over a wide range of concentrations and found to be highly attractive to adultOryzaephilus surinamensis (L.). The materials responsible for the aroma were isolated from the distillate by saturating with sodium chloride and extracting into diethyl ether as separate acidic, neutral, and basic fractions. The extraction efficiency was checked by recombining portions of the three fractions and replacing the diethyl ether with water to give a reconstituted distillate; this was almost as attractive as the original distillate. Bioassay of aqueous solutions of the three separate fractions showed that the acidic was attractive, while the neutral and basic had little effect. The five major components of the acidic fraction were found to be acetic, isobutyric,n-butyric, 2-methylbutyric, and hexanoic (caproic) acids. Bioassay of these in aqueous solution, both separately and combined, showed that hexanoic acid was the most attractive and may be responsible for both the longer-lasting attractive effect of the carob distillate and for the effectiveness of carobs themselves used in bait bags to detect stored product insects.     

Field Response of Southern Pine Beetle Parasitoids to Some Natural Attractants

Studies were performed to isolate and identify semiochemicals that mediate location of host-infested trees by parasitoids of the southern pine beetle (SPB), Dendroctonus frontalis. Bark or bolts removed from pines infested with SPB broods attracted significant numbers of the hymenopterous parasitoids Spathius pallidus and Roptrocerus xylophagorum to sticky traps placed in an active SPB infestation. Traps baited with the water distillate of SPB brood-infested bark also attracted both species of parasitoids. In contrast, a synthetic bait composed of 18 compounds identified from the headspace volatiles of attractive bark failed to trap parasitoids. The oxygenated and hydrocarbon components of the bark distillate were partitioned by silica gel liquid chromatography, and the resulting two fractions were tested in the field. Parasitoid attraction was greatest when both fractions were released from traps simultaneously. The hydrocarbon fraction, which failed to attract parasitoids, enhanced the weak attractiveness of the oxygenated fraction. Hence, it appears that no single compound is responsible for mediating SPB parasitoid host-tree location and that both oxygenated and hydrocarbon semiochemicals are involved in this process.     

Separation and characterization of peanut phospholipid molecular species using high-performance liquid chromatography and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

Total lipid extracts from peanut seed were separated on a silica column into a triacylglycerol fraction and a polar lipid fraction by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The polar fraction containing the phospholipids was retained on the precolumn, and the triacylglycerol fraction was eluted to a waste flask by a special valve arrangement. Phospholipids were eluted from the precolumn and separated into various classes on a silica analytical column. Each phospholipid class was manually collected and subsequently subjected to reversed-phase HPLC in tandem with a fast atom bombardment mass spectrometer. Phosphatidylethanolamine was separated into five molecular species. Phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine were each separated into six molecular species.     

Strong Attraction of the Parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cotesia marginiventris</Emphasis> Towards Minor Volatile Compounds of Maize

Plants infested with herbivorous arthropods emit complex blends of volatile compounds, which are used by several natural enemies as foraging cues. Despite detailed knowledge on the composition and amount of the emitted volatiles in many plant-herbivore systems, it remains largely unknown which compounds are essential for the attraction of natural enemies. In this study, we used a combination of different fractionation methods and olfactometer bioassays in order to examine the attractiveness of different compositions of volatile blends to females of the parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris. In a first step, we passed a volatile blend emitted by Spodoptera littoralis infested maize seedlings over a silica-containing filter tube and subsequently desorbed the volatiles that were retained by the silica filter (silica extract). The volatiles that broke through the silica filter were collected on and subsequently desorbed from a SuperQ filter (breakthrough). The silica extract was highly attractive to the wasps, whereas the breakthrough volatiles were not attractive. The silica extract was even more attractive than the extract that contained all herbivore-induced maize volatiles. Subsequently, we fractioned the silica extract by preparative gas-chromatography (GC) and by separating more polar from less polar compounds. In general, C. marginiventris preferred polar over non-polar compounds, but several fractions were attractive to the wasp, including one that contained compounds emitted in quantities below the detection threshold of the GC analysis. These results imply that the attractiveness of the volatile blend emitted by Spodoptera-infested maize seedlings to C. marginiventris females is determined by a specific combination of attractive and repellent/masking compounds, including some that are emitted in very small amounts. Manipulating the emission of such minor compounds has the potential to greatly improve the attraction of certain parasitoids and enhance biological control of specific insect pests.     

Effect of steam distillate extract of resistant wild riceOryza officinalis on behavior of brown planthopperNilaparvata lugens (Stal) (Homoptera: Delphacidae)

Rice plant volatiles extracted as steam distillates significantly affected the behavior of the brown planthopperNilaparvata lugens (Stal). In a choice test, significantly more females settled and fed on tillers of a susceptible rice variety, Taichung Native 1 (TN 1), sprayed with acetone or untreated TN 1 plants than on TN 1 tillers sprayed with the extracts of resistant wild riceOryza officinalis. O. officinalis steam distillate was highly toxic to first-instar nymphs ofN. lugens. Ingestion and assimilation of food by females was significantly reduced on TN 1 plants sprayed withO. officinalis distillate compared to TN 1 plants sprayed with acetone. Application of0. officinalis distillate on TN 1 plants adversely affected hatchability of eggs ofN. lugens.     

Theoretical analysis of a multiple-effect diffusion still producing highly concentrated seawater

A multiple-effect diffusion still producing highly concentrated seawater was theoretically analyzed taking variations of the boiling point elevation (BPE) into account. The still consists of a series of seawater-soaked wicks stuck on closely-spaced parallel plates with the first plate steam-heated at 100°C and the last plate cooled in 30°C ambient air. Evaporation from the wicks increases the BPE more rapidly at downstream distances closer to exits of evaporating areas, and this increase reduces evaporation flux significantly at downstream regions on the wicks. An 80% heat recovery from products of hot condensate and concentrate reduces the steam consumption by 46%. The steam consumption decreases more rapidly with an increasing number of wicks than does the production rate; thus, a lower steam consumption ratio is observed for the still having more wicks. Narrowing the gaps between the plates greatly increases the production rate with a slight decrease in the steam consumption ratio. The still with 19 wicks with 1 m by 2 m evaporating areas, 5 mm gaps and 80% heat recovery produces 12 kg distillate and 3.3 kg concentrate of 0.16 kg/kg-water concentration per 1 kg steam consumption with a 26.4 kg/h distillate production rate.     

Evidence for male-produced aggregation pheromone in American palm weevil,Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae):

Field trapping of the American palm weevil (APW),Rhynchophorus palmarum, showed that the combination of caged male APWs and palm stem was much more attractive to APWs of both sexes than palm stem alone. Caged female APWs did not enhance the attractiveness of the palm. Caged APWs without palm stem were not attractive. Virgin laboratory-bred males were highly attractive to APWs of both sexes in a two-choice pitfall olfactometer, whereas virgin laboratory-bred females were not. Adsorbenttrapped volatiles from virgin laboratory-bred males reproduced the effect of living males, giving evidence for a male-produced aggregation pheromone in this species. Wild-mated APWs of both sexes were as responsive to the aggregation pheromone as virgin laboratory-bred APWs. This is the first record of chemical communication in this species. These results have prompted investigations into the chemical identification of the aggregation pheromone.     

Antignawing factor of crude oil derived fromThujopsis dolabrata S. et Z. var.hondai sawdust against mice

The antignawing activity of the steam distillate ofThujopsis dolabrata S. et. Z. var.hondai sawdust against mice was evaluated using a wire-dipping method. This method is suitable for measuring repellent activities of chemicals and plant-derived materials. The steam distillate of theThujopsis sawdust was shown to have potent antignawing activity. Three terpenoid compounds with antignawing activity were isolated from the steam distillate of theThujopsis sawdust: thujopsene, carvacrol, and-thujaplicine. Carvacrol exhibited the most potent repellent activity. As a naturally occurring repellent, carvacrol could be useful as new preventive agent against various kinds of damage caused by rodents.     

Herbivory induces systemic production of plant volatiles that attract predators of the herbivore: Extraction of endogenous elicitor

It was previously shown that in response to infestation by spider mites (Tetranychus urticae), lima bean plants produce a volatile herbivoreinduced synomone that attracts phytoseiid mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) that are predators of the spider mites. The production of predator-attracting infochemicals was established to occur systemically throughout the spider mitein-fested plant. Here we describe the extraction of a water-soluble endogenous elicitor from spider mite-infested lima bean leaves. This elicitor was shown to be transported out of infested leaves and was collected in water in which the petiole of the infested leaf was placed. When the petioles of uninfested lima bean leaves were placed in water in which infested leaves had been present for the previous seven days, these uninfested lima bean leaves became highly attractive to predatory mites in an olfactometer when an appropriate control of uninfested lima bean leaves was offered as alternative. The strength of this effect was dependent on the number of spider mites infesting the elicitor-producing leaves. Higher numbers of spider mites resulted in an elicitor solution with a stronger effect. In addition, spider mite density was important. The elicitor obtained from one leaf with 50 spider mites had a stronger effect on the attractiveness of uninfested leaves than the elicitor obtained from three leaves with 17 spider mites each. This suggests that the stress intensity imposed on a plant is an important determinant of the elicitor quantity. While the elicitor has a strong effect on the attractiveness of uninfested leaves, spider mite-infested leaves are still much more attractive to predatory mites than elicitor-exposed leaves. The data are discussed in the context of systemic effects in plant defense and the biosynthesis of herbivore-induced terpenoids in plants.     

The Nasonov pheromone of the honeybeeApis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera,Apidae). Part II. Bioassay of the components using foragers

The Nasonov pheromone of the honeybee comprises seven components, (Z)-citral, nerol, geraniol, nerolic acid, geranic acid, and (E,E)-farnesol. Bioassay of individual components showed each attracted foraging bees. A mixture of components in proportions present in the honeybee was as attractive as the natural secretion, and each component contributed to the attractiveness of the mixture. Honeybees responded anemotactically to the source of Nasonov odor. The presence of footprint pheromone enhanced the attractiveness of the synthetic Nasonov mixture. Nasonov and footprint pheromones may prove useful in attracting honeybees to crops needing pollination.     

Isolation of corn semiochemicals attractive and repellent to western corn rootworm larvae

Dichloromethane extracts of germinating corn are significantly attractive to western corn rootworm larvae in choice tests with equal levels of carbon dioxide present on both sides of the choice. Two fractions that are significantly attractive and two fractions that are significantly repellent to larvae were isolated from these extracts of germinating corn by gas chromatography and silica gel chromatography. In a separate set of experiments, Porapak N was used to collect headspace volatiles from germinating corn; significantly more larvae were attracted to aliquots of these extracts in singlechoice tests without added carbon dioxide present than to solvent controls.Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae.     

Purification of sitosterol

Sitosterol and stigmastanol are obtained from the Raney nickel catalyzed hydrogenation of stigmasterol. The sitosterol was separated from stigmastanol by silica gel column chromatography of its dibromide. Sitosterol was also obtained from the steam deodorizer distillate of crude cottonseed oil and purified by manifold recrystallizations of the free sterol from isopropanol and its acetate from alcohol-acetic acid mixtures at a low temperature. Contribution No. 1946, Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Incubated Human Sweat but not Fresh Sweat Attracts the Malaria Mosquito Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto

A dual-port olfactometer was used to quantify behavioral responses of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto to volatiles emitted by sweat samples collected from three human volunteers. Significant attraction (P < 0.05) was found to sweat of two volunteers after two days and to one of the volunteers' sweat after one day of incubation at 37°C. There was no attraction to any of the fresh sweat samples. The pH of the sweat that became attractive after one or two days had changed from acidic (5.5–5.75) to alkaline (8.25–8.75), while the pH of the sweat of the third volunteer (pH 7) did not change during incubation. Microorganisms, present in all fresh sweat samples, showed distinct growth during incubation. The concentration of lactic acid decreased an average of 23% in two days of incubation. The role of the pH, skin microflora, and lactic acid in the differential attractiveness of human sweat samples is discussed.     

Attraction of Dibrachys cavus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to its Host Frass Volatiles

The European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a polyphagous insect able to develop on grapes and wild plants. We tested the hypothesis that the parasitoid Dibrachys cavus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) uses the larval frass in its host search. A two-armed olfactometer was used to measure the attractiveness of L. botrana larvae, their silk, or their frass after larvae were fed on different host plants. Frass of three Lepidoptera (L. botrana, Eupoecillia ambiguella, Sphinx ligustri) and one Orthoptera (Chorthippus brunneus) was assayed, but only L. botrana was used to test an effect of the larval host plant (two grape cultivars and three other plant species) to D. cavus females. Larvae without frass did not attract D. cavus whatever their origin, but their frass was attractive at a dose of 2–3 days equivalent of larval frass production. The silk produced by a single larva (L. botrana) was not attractive to D. cavus. The parasitoid was most attracted to the odor of S. ligustri; the frass of L. botrana was more attractive than that of E. ambiguella, irrespective of the species on which D. cavus had been reared. There was no difference in attractiveness of frass collected from L. botrana raised on food containing different plants. Chemical extracts using five different polarity solvents (acetone, dichloromethane, hexane, methanol, and water) differed in attractiveness to D. cavus. Water and dichloromethane were the most attractive. This suggests that a complex volatile signal made from intermediate to polar volatiles may be involved in attraction. D. cavus used frass to discriminate between different potential host species. Our results revealed that the larval food of L. botrana did not modify frass attractiveness, but that the moth species did.     

Effect of Dispersants on the Rheological Behavior of Zirconia-Wax Suspensions

Three types of fatty acids-namely, stearic acid, oleic acid, and 12-hydroxystearic acid-were used as dispersants for stabilization of highly concentrated zirconia-wax suspensions. Rheological properties such as viscosity and yield stress of the suspensions were determined over a temperature range of 65°-85°C. Experimental results indicated that better suspension stabilization was achieved when the 12-hydroxystearic acid was used. Adsorption behavior revealed a greater affinity at the solid/liquid interface that occurred for the 12-hydroxystearic acid than for stearic acid or oleic acid. This observation suggests that the adsorption of 12-hydroxystearic acid may lead to a better packing (or surface concentration) of the acid molecules onto the solid surface than others and also results in a better suspension fluidity and processability. Attractive interparticle interaction was estimated quantitatively by using the Vold model and resulting analysis showed a linear correlation between the yield stress and the attractive potential for the suspensions.     

Attractiveness to mexican fruit flies of combinations of acetic acid with ammonium/amino attractants with emphasis on effects of hunger

Ammonium acetate was more attractive than other ammonium salts to Mexican fruit flies (Anastrepha ludens) in an orchard test. We hypothesized that acetic acid enhanced the attractiveness of ammonia in the orchard test and that acetic acid may similarly enhance attractiveness of AMPu, an attractant consisting of a mixture of ammonium bicarbonate or ammonium carbonate, methylamine HCl, and putrescine. In laboratory experiments, acetic acid was attractive to flies deprived of either yeast hydrolysate or both sugar and yeast hydrolysate but not to flies fed both sugar and yeast hydrolysate. AMPu/acetic acid combinations were more attractive than AMPu alone to flies deprived of both sugar and yeast hydrolysate but not to flies fed sugar, regardless of yeast hydrolysate deprivation status. Acetic acid is the first attractant found that has become more attractive with both sugar and protein deprivation in studies withA. ludens. It is also the first that has enhanced the attractiveness of another attractant type. In orchard tests, yellow sticky panels baited with either AMPu or 17 mg of acetic acid were at least six times more attractive than unbaited panels. However, panels baited with both acetic acid (17–68 mg) and AMPu were less attractive than AMPu alone. These results differed from the laboratory data in which combinations were never less attractive than AMPu alone.     

Yeast and corn hydrolysates and other nutritious materials as attractants for onion and seed flies

The attractancy of enzymatic yeast hydrolysate, a corn hydrolysate, brewers' yeast, honey, ammonia,n-dipropyl disulfide, and several combinations of these treatments was tested in an onion field containing onion flies,Hylemya antiqua (Meigen) and seedcorn flies,H. platura (Meigen). Enzymatic yeast hydrolysate (concentrated powder) proved to be highly attractive to both fly species; females were more responsive than males. Brewers' yeast and corn hydrolysate were intermediately attractive, while all other treatments were only slightly or not at all attractive. Although no steps were taken to prolong release of volatiles, some of the nutritious materials remained highly attractive even after 11 days. The yeast products may, at certain times, be even more attractive than specific host volatiles. However, their activity was not constant over time and may be influenced by the stage of reproductive development of female flies.Diptera: AnthomyiidaePaper No. 9511 of the Michigan State University Agricultural Experiment Station.