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Title: STIMULATORY BEETLE AND MAPLE VOLATILES FOR THE ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE, ANOPLOPHORA GLABRIPENNIS (MOTSCHULSKY) (COLEOPTERA: CERAMBYCIDAE)

Author
item Zhang, Aijun
item Oliver, James
item Aldrich, Jeffrey

Submitted to: Journal of Natural Products
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The first reported infestations of the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis have been detected around Chicago and New York City, and are recognized to represent a potential disaster for hardwoods throughout much of the United States should they become widely dispersed. Although only detected in the past 2-3 years, the areas of infestation and the numbers of trees infested indicate that they must have been present for at least a few years prior to their identification. They have been shown to enter the country in solid wood packing materials from The People's Republic of China, and in fact have been intercepted numerous times during inspections at major ports of entry. Current monitoring techniques rely almost exclusively on visual inspection and detection, and a trap employing a chemical attractant would be invaluable in efforts to localize the existing infestations, as well as detecting new ones. This manuscript describes an effort to develop a lure based on chemicals produced by the beetles themselves. Two novel compounds, produced and emitted exclusively by adult male beetles, were identified, synthesized, and tested as potential attractants. Although a successful trapping system has not resulted to date, the manuscript reports information that will serve as a starting point for further work in the area; it may also prove useful for taxonomic purposes since several related beetles are also potential threats to invade the U. S.

Technical Abstract: Two male-specific beetle volatiles, and about six plant volatiles from twigs of Norway maple were found that elicited strong neural responses from Asian longhorned beetle adults. The maple-derived compounds are unexceptional as plant volatiles, but the beetle-derived compounds are functionalized dialkyl ethers, very unusual as insect natural products. In spite of strong antennal responses, none of the compounds were effectiv in initial attempts to trap beetles under field conditions.