Attraction of Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to four host plants
Abstract
The maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an important pest of stored grains, predominantly maize (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum L. spp.), rice (Oryza L. spp.), and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) (all Poaceae). Weevil infestations occur in the field and weevils are carried to the storage facility after harvest. Infestation also occurs in the grain storage facility. There is no effective field or storage trapping system for control. They are commonly parasitized by Pteromalidae Dalman (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) spp. parasitoids in the Tropics; however, there is no biocontrol use of these Hymenoptera. Therefore, pesticide application and the development of resistant grain are the current control strategies; although, studies have indicated that odors associated with the grain upon which the weevils feed, mate, and oviposit are attractive to the weevil. Host plant produced volatiles and their associations with the maize weevil have not been investigated fully. To better understand the weevil’s attraction to crop plants, a study was initiated to investigate the weevil’s preference for immature host plants. Weevils that had been reared on 4 types of grain for several generations were presented immature plants of all 4 types of grains in choice tests to determine if they prefer grains of the host plant on which they had been reared. This research demonstrated that immature rice plants have the greatest attraction, and that previous feeding did not influence the weevil’s host plant attraction. The isolation of key rice plant semiochemicals will be the focus in the development of an attractant for S. zeamais and may also prove effective for the control of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
Resumen
El gorgojo del maíz Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) es una plaga importante de los granos almacenados, predominantemente del maíz (Zea mays L.), trigo (Triticum L. spp.), arroz (Oryza L. spp.) y sorgo (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) (todas Poaceae). Las infestaciones de gorgojos ocurren en el campo y luego se llevan los gorgojos a la instalación de almacenamiento después de la cosecha. Las infestaciones también ocurren en la instalaciones de almacenamiento de granos. No existe un sistema efectivo de captura de campo o almacenamiento para el control. Suelen ser parasitados por Pteromalidae Dalman (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) spp. parasitoides en los trópicos; sin embargo, estos himenópteros no los usan como control biológico. Por tanto, la aplicación de plaguicidas y el desarrollo de grano resistente son las estrategias de control actuales; aunque los estudios han indicado que los olores asociados con el grano del que se alimentan, aparean y oviposita los gorgojos, son atractivos para el gorgojo. La planta hospedera produjo volátiles y sus asociaciones con el gorgojo del maíz no se han investigado completamente. Para comprender mejor la atracción del gorgojo por las plantas de cultivo, se inició un estudio para investigar la preferencia del gorgojo por las plantas inmaduras hospederas. A los gorgojos que se habían criado con 4 tipos de grano durante varias generaciones se les presentaron plantas inmaduras de los 4 tipos de granos en pruebas de elección para determinar si prefieren los granos de la planta hospedera en la que se habían criado. Esta investigación demostró que las plantas de arroz inmaduras tienen la mayor atracción y que la alimentación previa no influyó en la atracción de la planta hospedera del gorgojo. El aislamiento de semioquímicos clave de la planta de arroz será el foco en el desarrollo de un atrayente para S. zeamais y también este podria resultar eficaz para el control de Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
Key Words: stored grain pests; pest management; insect behavior
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