Parapatric Genetic Lineages Persist in a Multiply Introduced Non-native Bush-Cricket

To understand colonization success of an invasive species we need to know the origin of the founders, where and when they were introduced, and how they spread from the introduction site(s) through the landscape. Admixture of different genetic lineages from multiple introductions is generally hypothesized to be beneficial to invasive species thanks to adaptive variation and heterozygosity-fitness correlations. In this study, population genetic and landscape data was gathered for Roesel’s bush-cricket, Roeseliana roeselii a small bush-cricket common in central and eastern Europe that currently is expanding its range in northern Europe. We examined how colonization history and landscape structure affect the spread of the species and its population genetic structure, as a consequence of multiple introductions. Using comprehensive information of the species ecology and dispersal, together with genetic structure inferred from samples from 29 locations in central Sweden (we employed data published by Preuss et al., 2015), we found that two parapatric founding lineages have coexisted with very little gene flow during a long time span. An isolation-by-distance pattern and a decrease of genetic diversity toward marginal areas were more pronounced in the lineage situated in forest dominated landscapes. Our findings are in strong contrast to the hypothesis that different genetic lineages will admix when introduced to the same area. The presence of the separate lineages decades after introduction and without physical barriers for gene flow shows that some mechanism prevents them from admixture. One possibility is that the lineages with different genetic setups have adapted independently to local conditions and their admixture resulted in loss of locally adapted genotypes and hybrid offspring, less viable than the respective ancestral genotypes. However, an alternative post-mating reproductive barrier and hybrid breakdown phenomenon should also be considered. Our data indicate that besides landscape characteristics, human transportation of agricultural goods may play an important role for the overall spatial genetic pattern of the species in the study area by aiding the spread of the species.

A major forest insect pest, the pine weevil Hylobius abietis, is more susceptible to Diptera- than Coleoptera-targeted Bacillus thuringiensis strains

BACKGROUND

The pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) is a major forest regeneration pest causing high levels of seedling mortality and economic losses. Current management relies on silviculture, stem coatings and insecticides. Here we evaluated for the first time the effects of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains on H. abietis adults: two producing the Coleoptera-targeted toxins Cry3Aa (Bt tenebrionis NB-176) and Cry8Da (Bt galleriae SDS-502), and one producing the Diptera-targeted Cry10A (Bt israelensis AM65-52). Choice and nonchoice assays using individual and mixtures of Bt formulations, containing these strains respectively, were conducted.

RESULTS

We found that Bt had toxic and lethal effects on H. abietis, but effects varied with strain and formulation concentration. The Diptera-targeted Bt israelensis had the most negative effects on weevil weight, feeding and mortality (70-82% feeding reduction, 65-82% greater mortality than control), whereas the effect was lower for the Coleoptera-specific Bt tenebrionis (38-42%; 37-42%) and Bt galleriae (11-30%; 15-32%). Reduced weevil feeding was observed after 3 days, and the highest mortality occurred 7-14 days following Bt exposure. However, we found no synergistic toxic effects, and no formulation combination was better than Bt israelensis alone at reducing consumption and survival. Also, pine weevils were not deterred by Bt, feeding equally on Bt-treated and non-Bt treated food.

CONCLUSION

There is potential to develop forest pest management measures against H. abietis that include Bt, but only the Diptera-targeted Bt israelensis would provide effective seedling protection. Its Diptera-specificity may need reconsideration, and evaluation of other Bt strains/toxins against H. abietis would be of interest. © 2020 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparison of Phenylacetates with Benzoates and Phenylpropanoates as Antifeedants for the Pine Weevil, Hylobius abietis

This study concludes an extensive investigation of antifeedants for the pine weevil, Hylobius abietis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), an economically important pest of planted conifer seedlings. Building on the previously reported antifeedant effects of benzoates and phenylpropanoids (aromatic compounds with one- or three-carbon-atom substituents on the benzene ring), we here report the antifeedant effects of compounds with two-carbon-atom side chains (i.e., phenylacetates). We also present new results; the best antifeedants from the benzoate class were tested at 10-fold lower concentrations in order to find the optimal antifeedants. Generally, for all three compound classes, efficient antifeedants were found to have one or two methyl, chloro, or methoxy substituents on the aromatic ring. For monosubstituted phenylpropanoids, the substituent preferably should be in the para-position. In the search for synergistic antifeedant effects among the three compound classes, combinations of compounds from the three classes were tested in binary and ternary mixtures.

Novel Avenues for Plant Protection: Plant Propagation by Somatic Embryogenesis Enhances Resistance to Insect Feeding

Somatic embryogenesis (SE), a clonal propagation method utilizing somatic cells, occurs under conditions that activate plant stress adaptation mechanisms such as production of protective secondary metabolites. Surprisingly, possible differences in susceptibility to insect pests between SE-generated and conventionally cultivated plants have not been previously explored. Here, we recorded frequencies and levels of bark-feeding damage by pine weevils (Hylobius abietis) in two large field trials, consisting of emblings (SE-propagated plants) and seedlings from 50 half-sib Norway spruce (Picea abies) families. We found that emblings were less frequently attacked by pine weevils, and when attacked, they were damaged to a lesser extent than seedlings. Moreover, we detected significant additive genetic variation in damage levels received by plants, indicating a heritable component to differences in resistance to insect herbivory among half-sib families. We present first-time evidence that emblings can be more resistant than seedlings to herbivorous insect damage, thus, SE appears to confer a previously unknown plant protection advantage. This finding indicates novel avenues to explore mechanisms underlying plant resistance and new approaches to develop non-toxic measures against insect pests.

Antifeedants Produced by Bacteria Associated with the Gut of the Pine Weevil Hylobius abietis

The pine weevil, Hylobius abietis, is a severe forest pest insect as it feeds on newly planted conifer seedlings. To identify and develop an antifeedant could be one step towards the protection of seedlings from feeding damage by the pine weevil. With the aim to trace the origin of the antifeedants previously found in feces of the pine weevil, we investigated the culturable bacteria associated with the gut and identified the volatiles they produced. Bacterial isolates were identified by 16S ribosomal RNA gene analysis. The volatile emissions of selected bacteria, cultivated on NB media or on the grated phloem of Scots pine twigs dispersed in water, were collected and analyzed by solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The bacterial isolates released a variety of compounds, among others 2-methoxyphenol, 2-phenylethanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, dimethyl disulfide, and dimethyl trisulfide. A strong antifeedant effect was observed by 2-phenylethanol, which could thus be a good candidate for use to protect planted conifer seedlings against feeding damage caused by H. abietis.

Methyl Jasmonate-Induced Monoterpenes in Scots Pine and Norway Spruce Tissues Affect Pine Weevil Orientation

In large parts of Europe, insecticide-free measures for protecting conifer plants are desired to suppress damage by the pine weevil Hylobius abietis (L.). Treatment with methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a chemical elicitor already used in crop production, may enhance expression of chemical defenses in seedlings in conifer regenerations. However, in a previous experiment, MeJA treatment resulted in substantially better field protection for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) than for Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Hypothesizing that the variations may be at least due partly to volatiles released by MeJA-treated seedlings and their effects on pine weevil orientation, we examined tissue extracts of seedlings (from the same batches as previously used) by two-dimensional GC-MS. We found that the MeJA treatment increased contents of the monoterpene (−)-β-pinene in phloem (the weevil’s main target tissue) of both tree species, however, the (−)-β-pinene/(−)-α-pinene ratio increased more in the phloem of P. sylvestris. We also tested the attractiveness of individual monoterpenes found in conifer tissues (needles and phloem) for pine weevils using an arena with traps baited with single-substance dispensers and pine twigs. Trap catches were reduced when the pine material was combined with a dispenser releasing (−)-β-pinene, (+)-3-carene, (−)-bornyl acetate or 1,8-cineole. However, (−)-α-pinene did not have this effect. Thus, the greater field protection of MeJA-treated P. sylvestris seedlings may be due to the selective induction of increases in contents of the deterrent (−)-β-pinene, in contrast to strong increases in both non-deterrent (−)-α-pinene and the deterrent (−)-β-pinene in P. abies seedlings.

Induced defenses change the chemical composition of pine seedlings and influence meal properties of the pine weevil Hylobius abietis

The defense of conifers against phytophagous insects relies to a large extent on induced chemical defenses. However, it is not clear how induced changes in chemical composition influence the meal properties of phytophagous insects (and thus damage rates). The defense can be induced experimentally with methyl jasmonate (MeJA), which is a substance that is produced naturally when a plant is attacked. Here we used MeJA to investigate how the volatile contents of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) tissues influence the meal properties of the pine weevil (Hylobius abietis (L.)). Phloem and needles (both weevil target tissues) from MeJA-treated and control seedlings were extracted by n-hexane and analyzed by two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (2D GC-MS). The feeding of pine weevils on MeJA-treated and control seedlings were video-recorded to determine meal properties. Multivariate statistical analyses showed that phloem and needle contents of MeJA-treated seedlings had different volatile compositions compared to control seedlings. Levels of the pine weevil attractant (+)-α-pinene were particularly high in phloem of control seedlings with feeding damage. The antifeedant substance 2-phenylethanol occurred at higher levels in the phloem of MeJA-treated than in control seedlings. Accordingly, pine weevils fed slower and had shorter meals on MeJA-seedlings. The chemical compositions of phloem and needle tissues were clearly different in control seedlings but not in the MeJA-treated seedlings. Consequently, meal durations of mixed meals, i.e. both needles and phloem, were longer than phloem meals on control seedlings, while meal durations on MeJA seedlings did not differ between these meal contents. The meal duration influences the risk of girdling and plant death. Thus our results suggest a mechanism by which MeJA treatment may protect conifer seedlings against pine weevils.

Hydroxy-Methoxybenzoic Methyl Esters: Synthesis and Antifeedant Activity on the Pine Weevil, Hylobius abietis

The pine weevil Hylobius abietis (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) feeds on the bark of coniferous seedlings and is the economically most important forestry restocking pest in large parts of Europe. Substances with an antifeedant effect may offer an environmentally friendly alternative to insecticides for the protection of planted seedlings. Bioassays were performed on commercial and synthetic methyl hydroxy-methoxybenzoates in order to determine their possible antifeedant activity.

Two methyl hydroxy-methoxybenzoates were synthesized by esterification and mono-O-methylation of two dihydroxybenzoic acids. A regioselective protection-deprotection strategy was used in the synthetic pathway of the other non-commercial esters, esterification and selective pivaloylation of the less-hindered hydroxyl group of other commercial dihydroxybenzoic acids gave diester intermediates, which then were O-methylated before methanolysis of the pivaloyl group which yielded the desired non-commercial methyl hydroxy-methoxybenzoates.

The five synthesized methyl hydroxy-methoxybenzoic esters were complemented with commercial samples of the five other isomers of methyl hydroxy-methoxybenzoate and spectrometric data were collected for the complete set of isomers. All ten isomers were tested for their antifeedant effect on the pine weevil. The effect varied considerably among the hydroxy-methoxybenzoic esters. Methyl 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate showed the highest effect and may thus be a candidate for practical use in pine weevil pest management.

Penicillium expansum volatiles reduce pine weevil attraction to host plants

The pine weevil Hylobius abietis (L.) is a severe pest of conifer seedlings in reforested areas of Europe and Asia. To identify minimally toxic and ecologically sustainable compounds for protecting newly planted seedlings, we evaluated the volatile metabolites produced by microbes isolated from H. abietis feces and frass. Female weevils deposit feces and chew bark at oviposition sites, presumably thus protecting eggs from feeding conspecifics. We hypothesize that microbes present in feces/frass are responsible for producing compounds that deter weevils. Here, we describe the isolation of a fungus from feces and frass of H. abietis and the biological activity of its volatile metabolites. The fungus was identified by morphological and molecular methods as Penicillium expansum Link ex. Thom. It was cultured on sterilized H. abietis frass medium in glass flasks, and volatiles were collected by SPME and analyzed by GC-MS. The major volatiles of the fungus were styrene and 3-methylanisole. The nutrient conditions for maximum production of styrene and 3-methylanisole were examined. Large quantities of styrene were produced when the fungus was cultured on grated pine bark with yeast extract. In a multi-choice arena test, styrene significantly reduced male and female pine weevils' attraction to cut pieces of Scots pine twigs, whereas 3-methylanisole only reduced male weevil attraction to pine twigs. These studies suggest that metabolites produced by microbes may be useful as compounds for controlling insects, and could serve as sustainable alternatives to synthetic insecticides.

Structure-activity relationships of phenylpropanoids as antifeedants for the pine weevil Hylobius abietis

Ethyl cinnamate has been isolated from the bark of Pinus contorta in the search for antifeedants for the pine weevil, Hylobius abietis. Based on this lead compound, a number of structurally related compounds were synthesized and tested. The usability of the Topliss scheme, a flow diagram previously used in numerous structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, was evaluated in an attempt to find the most potent antifeedants. The scheme was initially followed stepwise; subsequently, all compounds found in the scheme were compared. In total, 51 phenylpropanoids were tested and analyzed for SARs by using arguments from the field of medicinal chemistry (rational drug design). Individual Hansch parameters based on hydrophobicity, steric, and electronic properties were examined. The effects of position and numbers of substituents on the aromatic ring, the effects of conjugation in the molecules, and the effects of the properties of the parent alcohol part of the esters were also evaluated. It proved difficult to find strong SARs derived from single physicochemical descriptors, but our study led to numerous new, potent, phenylpropanoid antifeedants for the pine weevil. Among the most potent were methyl 3-phenylpropanoates monosubstituted with chloro, fluoro, or methyl groups and the 3,4-dichlorinated methyl 3-phenylpropanoate.

Quantitative structure-activity relationships of pine weevil antifeedants, a multivariate approach

Antifeedant activity of mainly phenylpropanoic, cinnamic, and benzoic acids esters was tested on the pine weevil, Hylobius abietis (L.). Of 105 compounds screened for activity, 9 phenylpropanoates, 3 cinnamates, and 4 benzoates were found to be highly active antifeedants. To understand the structure-activity relationships of these compounds, a multivariate analysis study was performed. A number of molecular and substituent descriptors were calculated and correlated to results from two-choice feeding tests with H. abietis. Three local models were developed that had good internal predictive ability. External test sets showed moderate predictivity. In general, low polarity, small size, and high lipophilicity were characteristics for compounds having good antifeedant activity.

Structure-activity relationships of benzoic acid derivatives as antifeedants for the pine weevil, Hylobius abietis

Aromatic organic compounds found in the feces of the pine weevil, Hylobius abietis (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), have been shown to deter feeding behavior in this species, which is a serious pest of planted conifer seedlings in Europe. We evaluated 55 benzoic acid derivatives and a few homologs as antifeedants for H. abietis. Structure-activity relationships were identified by bioassaying related compounds obtained by rational syntheses of functional group analogs and structural isomers. We identified five main criteria of efficiency as antifeedants among the benzoic acid derivatives. By predicting optimal structures for H. abietis antifeedants, we attempted to find a commercial antifeedant to protect conifer seedlings against damage by H. abietis in regenerating forests. New, highly effective antifeedants are methyl 2,4-dimethoxybenzoate, isopropyl 2,4-dimethoxybenzoate, methyl 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate, methyl (3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)acetate, and methyl (2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)acetate. Of these, methyl 2,4-dimethoxybenzoate and isopropyl 2,4-dimethoxybenzoate have the highest antifeedant indices of all substances tested and are the best candidates for practical applications in order to protect planted seedlings in the field.

Antifeedants in the feces of the pine weevil Hylobius abietis: identification and biological activity

Egg-laying females of the pine weevil, Hylobius abietis (L.), regularly deposit feces adjacent to each egg. Egg cavities are gnawed in the bark of roots of recently dead conifer trees. After egg deposition, the cavity is sealed by feces and a plug of bark fragments. Root bark containing egg cavities with feces is avoided as food by pine weevils, which indicates the presence of natural antifeedants. Here we present the first results of the isolation and chemical analyses of antifeedant compounds in the feces of H. abietis. In feeding bioassays, methanol extracts of the feces revealed strong antifeedant properties. Methanol extracts were fractionated by medium-pressure liquid chromatography and the antifeedant effects were mainly found in the fractions of highest polarity. Volatile compounds in the active fractions were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the nonvolatile compounds were characterized by pyrolysis-GC-MS. Based on mass spectra, a number of compounds with various chemical structures were selected to be tested for their antifeedant properties. Antifeedant effects were found among compounds apparently originating from lignin: e.g., a methylanisol, guaiacol, veratrol, dihydroxybenzenes, and dihydroconiferyl alcohol. A weak effect by fatty acid derivatives was found. The types of naturally occurring antifeedant compounds identified in this study may become useful for the protection of planted conifer seedlings against damage by H. abietis.

Feeding and oviposition rates in the pine weevil Hylobius abietis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Feeding and oviposition in the pine weevil Hylobius abietis (Linnaeus) were monitored under laboratory conditions in two long-term experiments lasting over an extended breeding season. Data were also collected from weevils under semi-natural conditions outdoors. In addition, the effects of crowding and starvation were studied in separate experiments. During the main peak oviposition period, female H. abietis consumed 50% more bark tissue than males. When oviposition ceased, the feeding rate of the females declined to the same level as in the males. The rates and spatial distribution patterns of oviposition and feeding were clearly affected by climatic conditions and the degree of crowding. Females were estimated to lay on average 0.8 eggs per day during the season under outdoor conditions. The realized fecundity of a female weevil during the first season was estimated to be approximately 70 eggs. The estimated average rate of feeding was 23 mm2 of Scots pine bark per weevil per day. This implies that planted seedlings can only constitute a minor part of the food resources needed to sustain H. abietispopulations of the size that usually appear on fresh clear-cuttings in northern Europe.

Pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) antifeedants from lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta)

Pine weevils (Hylobius abietis) fed less on bark of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) than on bark of Scots pine (P. sylvestris). Two pine weevil antifeedants, ethyl trans-cinnamate and ethyl 2,3-dibromo-3-phenyl-propanoate, were isolated from bark of lodgepole pine. These two compounds significantly reduced pine weevil feeding in a laboratory bioassay. In field assays, the second compound significantly decreased pine weevil damage on planted seedlings. Ethyl 2,3-dibromo-3-phenylpropanoate has not previously been reported as a natural product.