Location: Chemistry Research
Project Number: 6036-22430-001-002-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2018
End Date: Jul 31, 2023
Objective:
Identification of semiochemicals for use in: 1) control and monitoring of insect pests or beneficials in Africa that have significant potential to become invasive pests or biocontrol agents, respectively, in the United States including Hemiptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Acari, and nematodes; and, 2) identification of nectar microbes that exhibit antagonism toward pathogenic nectar microbes or increase attractancy of beneficial pollinators to agriculturally-related flowers.
Approach:
Numerous invertebrate pests of Africa have significant potential for establishment as invasive pests in the United States. The chemically mediated communication biology of specific African species and/or their corresponding hosts will be elucidated through behavioral and chemical analyses to determine the semiochemicals responsible for attraction, repellence, or deterrence. Attention will also be given to potentially beneficial organisms or plant-insect, plant-microbe interactions. Semiochemical identification will be performed using chromatographic, spectroscopic, and microdegradative techniques coupled with biological assays. The individual or blend of synthetic or natural chemicals responsible for attraction/repellence will be formulated and tested to determine efficacy in monitoring and control of the pests.
