Semiochemical disruption of the pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Abstract

The pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), is an exotic pest of pine in North America. We evaluated blends of semiochemical disruptants, which included nonhost volatiles and verbenone, for their ability to disrupt attraction of T. piniperda to traps baited with the attractant α-pinene and to Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris L., trap logs. In Michigan and in Ontario, Canada, a single blend of nonhost volatiles alone [comprised of 1-hexanol, (Z)-S-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, 3-octanol, and 1-octen-3-ol] or the nonhost volatile blend combined with verbenone significantly reduced attraction of T. piniperda to attractant-baited traps by 68-77%. Similarly, verbenone plus the nonhost volatile blend or a similar blend without 1-octen-3-ol also significantly reduced attack density of T. piniperda on pine trap logs by 56-74% in both Michigan and Ontario. Although relative responses between the different blends were slightly different between Michigan and Ontario, the recommended operational disruptant consisted of 1-hexanol, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, 3-octanol, and verbenone.