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3-pentanol: a new attractant present in volatile emissions from the ambrosia beetle, Megaplatypus mutatus
Pablo Gatti Liguori1, Eduardo Zerba, Raul A Alzogaray
1Centro de Investigaciones de Plagas e Insecticidas, J. B. de La Salle 4397, (B1603ALO) Villa Martelli, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. pgatti@citefa.gob.ar
Abstract:
Megaplatypus mutatus (=Platypus mutatus) (Coleoptera: Platypodidae) is an ambrosia beetle that is native to South America. It attacks only standing live trees and causes severe stem breakage and death in commercial poplar (Populus) plantations. Previous work showed that male M. mutatus emits a sex pheromone composed mainly of (+)-sulcatol and sulcatone. We collected male volatile emissions during the hours of maximum emergence by using a specific polar microextraction phase; analyzed the extract by GC-MS; and tested the biological activity of selected compounds in the extract with a walking behavioral assay. Female M. mutatus emerged primarily between 7 and 11 h. In the chemical analyses of volatiles, a third compound, 3-pentanol, was identified in a small percentage of samples. Walking behavioral bioassays with video image analysis showed that at the doses tested, 3-pentanol elicited an attractive response from females.
Insights
A new attractant, 3-pentanol, was identified in male Megaplatypus mutatus (M. mutatus) emissions. This finding is crucial for developing effective pest management strategies against this destructive ambrosia beetle in poplar plantations.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Chemical Ecology
- Forestry
Background:
- Megaplatypus mutatus (M. mutatus) is a South American ambrosia beetle causing significant damage to commercial poplar plantations.
- This pest leads to stem breakage and tree death in affected areas.
- Previous research identified (+)-sulcatol and sulcatone as the primary components of the male M. mutatus sex pheromone.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify additional volatile compounds emitted by male M. mutatus.
- To investigate the biological activity of these compounds on female M. mutatus behavior.
- To potentially discover new attractants for pest management.
Main Methods:
- Collection of male volatile emissions during peak emergence using polar microextraction.
- Analysis of collected volatiles via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
- Conducting walking behavioral bioassays with female M. mutatus to test the attractiveness of identified compounds.
Main Results:
- A third compound, 3-pentanol, was identified in a small proportion of male volatile samples.
- Female M. mutatus emergence peaks between 7 and 11 hours.
- Behavioral assays demonstrated that 3-pentanol elicits a significant attractive response in female M. mutatus at tested doses.
Conclusions:
- 3-pentanol is a newly identified component of male M. mutatus volatile emissions.
- This compound acts as a female attractant, suggesting its potential role in mating behavior.
- The discovery of 3-pentanol offers a new avenue for developing targeted lures for M. mutatus pest management in poplar plantations.
