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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #284266
Title: Field attraction of the vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus to kairomones

Author
item VAN TOL, ROB - Plant Research International - Netherlands
item Bruck, Denny
item GRIEPINK, FRANS - Plant Research International - Netherlands
item JAN DE KOGEL, WILLEM - Plant Research International - Netherlands

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/9/2011
Publication Date: 1/15/2012
Citation: Van Tol, R., Bruck, D.J., Griepink, F.C., Jan De Kogel, W. 2012. Field attraction of the vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus to kairomones. Journal of Economic Entomology. 105:169-175.

Interpretive Summary: Root weevils in the genus Otiorhynchus are cited as one of the most important pests in the major nursery and small fruit production areas throughout the United States, western Canada and northern Europe. A major problem in combating weevil attack is monitoring and timing of control measures. Due to the night-activity of the adult weevils, growers do not observe the emerging weevils in a timely manner, and oviposition often starts before effective control measures are taken. Several vine weevil attractive plant volatiles were identified from a preferred host plant, Eunoymus fortunei. Main compounds evoking antennal responses on the weevils’ antennae were tested alone and in mixtures on attractiveness for the vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus in field-grown strawberry in Oregon, USA. O. sulcatus were attracted to (Z)-2-pentenol (~3x more than control) and a 1:1 ratio mixture of (Z)-2-pentenol and methyl eugenol (4.5x more than control). This is the first report of field-active attractants for O. sulcatus which holds promise for the development of a monitoring tool for growers in the near future.

Technical Abstract: Root weevils in the genus Otiorhynchus are cited as one of the most important pests in the major nursery and small fruit production areas throughout the United States, western Canada and northern Europe. A major problem in combating weevil attack is monitoring and timing of control measures. Due to the night-activity of the adult weevils, growers do not observe the emerging weevils in a timely manner, and oviposition often starts before effective control measures are taken. Several vine weevil EAD-active plant volatiles were identified from a preferred host plant, Eunoymus fortunei. Main compounds evoking antennal responses on the weevils’ antennae were (Z)-2-pentenol, (E)-2-hexenol, (Z)-3-hexenol, methyl benzoate, linalool, DMNT, methyl eugenol and (E, E)-a-farnesene. Several of these compounds were tested alone and in mixtures on attractiveness for the vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus in field-grown strawberry in Oregon, USA. O. sulcaus were attracted to (Z)-2-pentenol (~3x more than control) and a 1:1 ratio mixture of (Z)-2-pentenol and methyl eugenol (4.5x more than control). This is the first report of field-active attractants for O. sulcatus which holds promise for the development of a monitoring tool for growers in the near future.