Mating Disruption for Managing Prionus californicus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Hop and Sweet Cherry

Mating Disruption of Pseudococcus calceolariae (Maskell) (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae) in Fruit Crops

Simple Summary

The citrophilous mealybug is an economically important pest that is mainly controlled using insecticides, not always successfully, and with unintended negative environmental side effects. In our research, we tested a specific and sustainable control tool using the mealybug sex pheromone. Mating disruption is a technique that aims to reduce mating between males and females by inundating the area with the synthetic sex pheromone of the species, thereby reducing reproduction and consequently populations over time and damage. For this purpose, the mealybug pheromone, incorporated into a polymeric substance for its release, was applied in a tangerine and an apple orchard, in two seasons (2017/2018 and 2019/2020). In all seasons, a reduction in the males catches in traps after deploying pheromone was observed, which would indicate a decrease in the probability of successful mating compared to control plots. The duration of this effect was around one year. Mealybug abundance on trees was extremely low throughout the trials, so it was not possible to observe a reduction of populations or damage. This research shows that the use of this pheromone-based technique has good potential for controlling the citrophilous mealybug, with the advantage of being environmentally friendly and non-toxic.

Abstract

Pseudococcus calceolariae, the citrophilous mealybug, is a species of economic importance. Mating disruption (MD) is a potential control tool. During 2017–2020, trials were conducted to evaluate the potential of P. calceolariae MD in an apple and a tangerine orchard. Two pheromone doses, 6.32 g/ha (2017–2018) and 9.45 g/ha (2019–2020), were tested. The intermediate season (2018–2019) was evaluated without pheromone renewal to study the persistence of the pheromone effect. Male captures in pheromone traps, mealybug population/plant, percentage of infested fruit at harvest and mating disruption index (MDI) were recorded regularly. In both orchards, in the first season, male captures were significantly lower in MD plots compared to control plots, with an MDI > 94% in the first month after pheromone deployment. During the second season, significantly lower male captures in MD plots were still observed, with an average MDI of 80%. At the third season, male captures were again significant lower in MD than control plots shortly after pheromone applications. In both orchards, population by visual inspection and infested fruits were very low, without differences between MD and control plots. These results show the potential use of mating disruption for the control of P. calceolariae.

Pheromone Chemistry of the Citrus Borer, Diploschema rotundicolle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The citrus borer, Diploschema rotundicolle, is a Neotropical longhorn beetle that has become a serious citrus pest in southern South America. Management strategies for this insect rely on trimming off damaged shoots, which is expensive and inefficient. We studied the chemical communication system in D. rotundicolle in search of attractants for monitoring or control. GC-MS and enantioselective GC analyses of volatile extracts from field-collected adults showed that males produce (R)-3-hydroxy-2-hexanone, irregularly accompanied by minor amounts of 2,3-hexanediol (all four stereoisomers) and 2,3-hexanedione. Males emit the compounds only at night, when the adults are active. GC-EAD analyses of natural and synthetic compounds showed that both male and female antennae respond to the natural enantiomer (R)-3-hydroxy-2-hexanone, suggesting that it may function as an aggregation-sex pheromone as seen in many cerambycines. The non-natural (S) enantiomer as well as the minor component 2,3-hexanediol did not trigger antennal responses. Field tests with the racemic 3-hydroxy-2-hexanone, enantiomerically pure (R)-3-hydroxy-2-hexanone, as well as a mixture of racemic 3-hydroxy-2-hexanone and 2,3-hexanediol, showed in all cases low capture levels of D. rotundicolle. However, increasing the elevation of the trap and the emission rate of dispensers enhanced field captures in traps baited with racemic hydroxyketone. Incidental catches of another native cerambycine, Retrachydes thoracicus, in traps baited with 3-hydroxy-2-hexanone are also reported. This is the first report of pheromone chemistry in the genus Diploschema and in the tribe Torneutini, reaffirming the pheromone parsimony well established for the Cerambycinae. Potential factors explaining the weak attraction of D. rotundicolle in the field are discussed.