Dose and Enantiospecific Responses of White Pine Cone Beetles, Conophthorus coniperda, to [alpha]-Pinene in an Eastern White Pine Seed Orchard

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology 2003-02, Vol.29 (2), p.437
• Main Authors: Miller, Daniel R, Crowe, Christopher M, Asaro, Christopher, Debarr, Gary L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Evergreen trees; Flowers & plants; Insects; Pine trees; Seed orchards; Sex ratio; Trees
• ISSN: 0098-0331; 1573-1561
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1022642314029

The white pine cone beetle, Conophthorus coniperda, exhibited dose and enantiospecific responses to α-pinene in stands of mature eastern white pine, Pinus strobus, in a seed orchard near Murphy, North Carolina, USA. (-)-α-Pinene significantly increased catches of cone beetles to traps baited with (± )-trans-pityol. (+)-α-Pinene did not increase catches of beetles to pityol-baited traps and interrupted the response of beetles to traps baited with (±)-trans-pityol and (-)-α-pinene. Maximal attraction of cone beetles to pityol-baited traps was obtained with lures releasing (-)-α-pinene at a rate of 103 mg/day at 23^sup °^C. Lures releasing (-)-α-pinene at rates lower or higher than 103 mg/day resulted in reduced catches to traps baited with (±)-trans-pityol. The sex ratio in all catches was heavily male biased. Attraction of the clerid predator, Thanasimus dubius, to traps baited with (±)-trans-pityol increased significantly with the presence of α-pinene, irrespective of enantiomeric composition. Maximal attraction of T. dubius to pityol-baited traps occurred with devices releasing (-)-α-pinene at the highest rate tested, 579 mg/d at 23^sup °^C, a sub optimal rate for cone beetles.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]