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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #361239
Research Project: Methyl Bromide Replacement: Mitigation of the Invasive Pest Threat from the American Tropics and Subtropics

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Semiochemicals for attraction of Euwallacea nr. fornicatus, a pest ambrosia beetle in southern Florida

Author
item Tabanca, Nurhayat
item Kendra, Paul
item OWENS, DAVID - Orise Fellow
item Narvaez, Teresa
item Montgomery, Wayne
item Schnell, Elena
item CARRILLO, DANIEL - University Of Florida

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2019
Publication Date: 8/25/2019
Citation: Tabanca, N., Kendra, P.E., Owens, D., Narvaez, T.I., Montgomery, W.S., Schnell, E.Q., Carrillo, D. 2019. Semiochemicals for attraction of Euwallacea nr. fornicatus, a pest ambrosia beetle in southern Florida [abstract]. American Chemical Society National Meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Shot-hole borers in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are invasive ambrosia beetles that cause severe damage to avocado (Persea americana), woody ornamentals, and forest trees in the USA (California and Florida). Semiochemicals play a crucial role in detection and management strategies for these pests. Current monitoring uses lures containing quercivorol, a food-based attractant emitted from the beetle’s symbiotic Fusarium fungi. Recent field studies in Florida demonstrated that an essential oil lure enriched in a-copaene (a host sesquiterpene) is another effective attractant, significantly increasing captures of E. nr. fornicatus when combined with quercivorol. The new two-component lure provides improved pest detection, with field longevity of 3 months and minimal attraction of non-target beetles. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis of the quercivorol lure indicated that it contained 88% trans- and 9% cis-p-menth-2-en-1-ol. Analysis of the essential oil lure revealed 12 constituents, almost entirely sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (99.3%), with high content of a-copaene (>50%). Chiral separation of the a-copaene component showed a composition of (+)-a-copaene (0.1%) and (-)-a-copaene (99.9%). These results indicate that efficacy of the two-component lure is likely the result of synergistic attraction achieved by a combination of (-)-a-copaene and trans-p-menth-2-en-1-ol.