Role of ground trash volatiles in the selection of hibernation sites by boll weevils
2000
Hedin, P.A. | McKibben, G.H. | Dollar, D.A.
Volatiles play a large role in governing the behavior of boll weevils (Anthonomus grandis Boheman). They are attracted to cotton plants, and the female is sexually attracted to the male. The attracting compounds in both instances are terpenoids. Primarily in the fall of the year, boll weevils seek hibernation sites in leaf trash, where they remain until the following spring or summer. In the present study, essential oils were prepared by steam distillation from several leaf samples known to be prevalent at hibernation sites, and the oils were analyzed by GLC-MS. On the basis of the resulting presumptive identifications by comparison with those of standards, a number of mixtures were formulated and were field tested, as were the essential oils. The field tests failed to support unambiguously the premise that boll weevils select hibernation sites on the basis of leaf odor alone. However, in the presence of the sex pheromone, beta-caryophyllene (P > T = 0.08), or a mixture of three sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (P > T = 0.10), or a mixture of alkyl alcohols (P > T = 0.15) increased captures. The response to formulations of the sex pheromone with beta-caryophyllene may be primarily sexual, based on its presence in female boll weevils.
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