Evidence for male-produced aggregation pheromone in Sphenophorus incurrens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Keywords:
sugarcane, weevil, pest, semiochemicalAbstract
Sphenophorus incurrens Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an insect that feeds mainly on plants of the family Poaceae in the Neotropics. In Mexico, this weevil is an emergent pest of sugarcane. In this study, first the behavioral responses of both sexes to conspecifics were evaluated in a Y-tube olfactometer. Second, the volatiles of S. incurrens were sampled by the dynamic headspace technique and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). Third, the antennal-active compound was identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Finally, the biological activity of the identified compound was evaluated in laboratory and field tests. Our results showed that males emitted a pheromone that attracts both sexes. The GC-EAD analysis of the male volatiles showed that one peak elicited antennal responses from male and female weevils. The compound was identified as 2-methyl-4-octanol. Laboratory and field tests showed that the identified compound is attractive to both sexes of this weevil species, confirming its pheromonal activity.
Resumen
Sphenophorus incurrens Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) es un insecto que se alimenta principalmente de plantas de la familia Poaceae en el Neotrópico. En México, este picudo es una plaga emergente de la caña de azúcar. En este estudio, se evaluaron las primeras respuestas de comportamiento de ambos sexos a sus congéneres en un olfatómetro Y-tipo. En segundo lugar, se muestrearon los volátiles de S. incurrens por medio de la técnica de aeración dinámica y se analizaron por cromatografía de gases acoplada con detección electroantenográfica (CG-DEA). En tercer lugar, se identificó el compuesto antenal-activo por cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (CG-EM). Por último, se evaluó la actividad biológica del compuesto identificado en pruebas de laboratorio y de campo. Nuestros resultados mostraron que los machos emiten una feromona que atrae a ambos sexos. El análisis CG-DEA de los volátiles de machos mostró que 1 pico elicitó respuestas antenales de picudos de ambos sexos. Se identificó el compuesto como 2-metil-4-octanol. Las pruebas de laboratorio y de campo mostraron que el compuesto identificado es atractivo para ambos sexos de esta especie de picudo, lo que confirma su actividad feromonal.
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