Molecules, Vol. 26, Pages 2861: α-Terpineol: An Aggregation Pheromone in Optatus palmaris (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (Pascoe, 1889) Enhanced by Its Host-Plant Volatiles

Molecules, Vol. 26, Pages 2861: α-Terpineol: An Aggregation Pheromone in Optatus palmaris (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (Pascoe, 1889) Enhanced by Its Host-Plant Volatiles Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules26102861 Authors: José Manuel Pineda-Ríos Juan Cibrián-Tovar Luis Martín Hernández-Fuentes Rosa María López-Romero Lauro Soto-Rojas Jesús Romero-Nápoles Celina Llanderal-Cázares Luis F. Salomé-Abarca The Annonaceae fruits weevil (Optatus palmaris) causes high losses to the soursop production in Mexico. Damage occurs when larvae and adults feed on the fruits; however, there is limited research about control strategies against this pest. However, pheromones provide a high potential management scheme for this curculio. Thus, this research characterized the behavior and volatile production of O. palmaris in response to their feeding habits. Olfactometry assays established preference by weevils to volatiles produced by feeding males and soursop. The behavior observed suggests the presence of an aggregation pheromone and a kairomone. Subsequently, insect volatiles sampled by solid-phase microextraction and dynamic headspace detected a unique compound on feeding males increased especially when feeding. Feeding-starvation experiments showed an averaged fifteen-fold increase in the concentration of a monoterpenoid on males feeding on soursop, and a decrease of the release of this compound males stop feeding. GC-MS analysis of volatiles identified this c...
Source: Molecules - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research