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(R (*),S (*))-5-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-heptanone male-produced aggregation pheromone ofSitophilus oryzae (L.) andS.
J K Phillips1, C A Walgenbach, J A Klein
1Stored Products and Household Insects Laboratory ARS-USDA, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53706, Madison, Wisconsin.
Journal of Chemical Ecology
|December 7, 2013
Summary
Researchers identified a male-produced aggregation pheromone, sitophilure, common to rice and maize weevils. The synthetic racemic pheromone attracted both sexes of rice, maize, and granary weevils.
Area of Science:
- Chemical Ecology
- Entomology
- Insect Behavior
Background:
- The rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) and maize weevil (S. zeamais) are significant agricultural pests.
- Understanding insect communication, particularly pheromones, is crucial for developing effective pest management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and identify the aggregation pheromone produced by male rice and maize weevils.
- To determine the chemical structure of the identified pheromone.
- To evaluate the attractiveness of the synthetic pheromone to different weevil species.
Main Methods:
- Hexane extraction of pheromone from exposed paper disks.
- Purification using preparative column and gas-liquid chromatography.
- Structure elucidation via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
- Behavioral assays with synthetic racemic pheromone.
Main Results:
- A common male-produced aggregation pheromone, named "sitophilure," was isolated and identified.
- The chemical structure was determined as (R (*),S (*))-5-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-heptanone, with unknown enantiomeric composition.
- Synthetic racemic sitophilure attracted males and females of both rice and maize weevils.
- Both sexes of the granary weevil (S. granarius) were also attracted to the synthetic pheromone.
Conclusions:
- Sitophilure is a key aggregation pheromone for Sitophilus weevils.
- The synthetic pheromone shows broad-spectrum attractiveness across related species.
- This discovery has potential applications in integrated pest management for stored product protection.
