Vittatalactone is the male-produced aggregation pheromone of the western striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma trivittatum

Authors: Weber, Donald; Khrimian, Ashot; RAMIREZ BONILLA, JASMIN - University Of California, Davis; GRETTENBERGER, IAN - University Of California, Davis; Guzman, Filadelfo; Haber, Ariela

Submitted to: Journal of Chemical Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/24/2023
Publication Date: 5/29/2023
Citation: Weber, D.C., Khrimian, A., Ramirez Bonilla, J.P., Grettenberger, I.M., Guzman, F., Haber, A.I. 2023. Vittatalactone is the male-produced aggregation pheromone of the western striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma trivittatum. Journal of Chemical Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-023-01437-y.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-023-01437-y

Interpretive Summary: Cucumber beetles are some of the most serious pests of cucurbit (squash, pumpkin, melon crops) in North America. Use of species-specific pheromones could use behavioral control as an environmentally friendly pest management tactic protective of nontarget species including pollinators. However, most pheromones are unknown, or if known, not available in quantities for use in the field. Using a synthetic version of the striped cucumber beetle pheromone (produced by the male and attractive to both males and females), we show that this is attractive also to males and females of the sister pest species, western striped cucumber beetle, found west of the Rocky Mountains. We also show that the western males produce this same pheromone. The results will be of interest to cucurbit researchers and pest managers, as well as pheromone providers, in regard to using behavioral pest control for protection of this important group of vegetable crops.

Technical Abstract: We found that vittatalactone, specifically 2R,3R,4S,6S,8S-2-methyl-3-(2,4,6,8-tetramethyloctyl)oxetan-3-one, is the male-produced aggregation pheromone of the western striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma trivittatum (Mannerheim), as was previously shown for the striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). An eight-isomer synthetic mix with 2R,3R configuration, which we show to contain 9% of the authentic natural pheromone, is attractive to both sexes of both species in the field, as demonstrated by trapping using baited and unbaited sticky panels in California and Maryland. Females of both species do not produce detectable vittatalactone. This finding expands the usefulness of the synthetic vittatalactone mixture for pest management throughout the range of both A. vittatum and A. trivittatum. We recommend that future work examine the attractiveness of vittatalactone to other cucurbit pests to test the potential for even broader use of vittatalactone.