Response of Dendroctonus mexicanus (Hopkins) to two optical isomers of verbenone

Abstract

Given the need for diminishing the use of pesticides in natural environments, in this research we investigated the efficacy of two optical isomers of verbenone (4, 6, 6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1] hepto-3-en-e-1) as controls of the attack of Dendroctonus mexicanus (Hopkins) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).Two experiments were established in the Sierra Fría, in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments: 1) frontalin+alpha-pinene (control), 2) frontalin+alpha-pinene+(+) verbenone and 3) frontalin+alpha-pinene+(−) verbenone, with six replications per treatment. The pheromones were placed on Lindgren funnel traps of 12 units. The experimental units were individual traps which were installed forming a grid of 70-70 m (18 traps). The response variable was the total number of bark beetles (D. mexicanus) captured per treatment. Data were analyzed throughan analysis of variance followed by Tukeys test (p=0.05). In both experiments there were significant differences among treatments (p=0.05). Frontalin+alpha-pinene attracted D. mexicanus in a significant way, but both isomers of verbenone had the same anti-aggregation effect for this species.

Citation

Diaz-Nunez, Vicente; Sanchez-Martinez, Guillermo; Gillette, Nancy E. 2006. Response of Dendroctonus mexicanus (Hopkins) to two optical isomers of verbenone. Agrociencia 40: 349-354.