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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #357881
Research Project: New Tools for Managing Key Pests of Pecan and Peach

Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research

Title: Spinosyns cause Aedeagus eversion in Carpophilus spp. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Author
item Cottrell, Ted
item REEVES, BENJAMIN - University Of Georgia
item HORTON, DAN - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/2019
Publication Date: 4/1/2019
Citation: Cottrell, T.E., Reeves, B., Horton, D.L. 2019. Spinosyns cause Aedeagus eversion in Carpophilus spp. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 112(4):1658-1664. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz055.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz055

Interpretive Summary: During an earlier assessment of various insecticides and bioinsecticides against sap beetles, we noted that males everted the aedeagus when treated with a spinosyn insecticide, i.e., spinetoram. This is the first report of this occurrence. We followed up on the original observation by examining eversion of the aedeagus when sap beetles were exposed to different rates of two spinosyn insecticides, i.e., spinetoram and spinosad. Additionally, we examined whether a similar response would occur in other insects exposed to a spinosyn, three species of lady beetles and the plum curculio. Our results show that male sap beetles respond to both spinosyns by everting their aedeagus. Female sap beetles, lady beetles and the plum curculio did not show a similar response.

Technical Abstract: During an assessment of various insecticides and bioinsecticides against sap beetles, Carpophilus sp. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), it was noted that at least some males everted the aedeagus when treated with a spinosyn insecticide, i.e., spinetoram. A similar response by sap beetles to other insecticides or by a spinosyn insecticide to other insect species was not found in the literature even though sap beetles have been included in numerous insecticide assays and spinosyn insecticides have been used for quite some time. The objective of this study was to further examine eversion of the aedeagus when sap beetles were exposed to different rates of two spinosyn insecticides, i.e., spinetoram and spinosad. Additionally, we examined whether a similar response would occur in other insects exposed to a spinosyn, three species of Coccinellidae and one species of Curculionidae. Our results show that male sap beetles respond to both spinosyns by everting their reproductive structures, females do not. No similar response for the species of Coccinellidae or Curculionidae assayed was observed.