Role of 3-Carene in Host Location and Colonization by Dendroctonus pseudotsugae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins) occasionally colonizes western larch [Larix occidentalis Nutt. (Pinales: Pinaceae)] growing in close proximity to its primary host, Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco (Pinales: Pinaceae)], but brood have never been found to survive in live western larch. Western larch produces the monoterpene 3-carene in higher concentrations than Douglas-fir. In this study, the toxicity and repellency of 3-carene to Douglas-fir beetle was evaluated in a series of laboratory and field tests. In a laboratory bioassay, 3-carene was one of the most toxic monoterpenes to Douglas-fir beetles among those tested. In a field trial, addition of 3-carene to multiple-funnel traps baited with frontalin (the primary component of Douglas-fir beetle aggregation pheromone) or frontalin and α-pinene significantly reduced the number of Douglas-fir beetles collected. In another field study, live western larch, felled western larch, live Douglas-fir, felled Douglas-fir, and live Douglas-fir surrounded by 3-carene releasers were baited with Douglas-fir beetle aggregation pheromones. There were significantly fewer Douglas-fir beetle entrance holes and egg galleries excavated on both live western larch and live Douglas-fir surrounded by 3-carene compared with live Douglas-fir. Most egg galleries excavated in live western larch were heavily impregnated with resin and no eggs hatched. There were no significant differences in egg galleries excavated or eggs hatched between felled western larch and felled Douglas-fir. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that 3-carene slows the colonization process in live western larch allowing more time for host trees to respond to a colonization attempt and a higher likelihood of successfully resisting infestation.