Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Semiochemical Regulation of the Intraspecific and Interspecific Behavior of Tomicus yunnanensis and Tomicus minor during the Shoot-Feeding Phase

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two pine shoot beetles, Tomicus yunnanensis and Tomicus minor, are the most destructive pests of Pinus yunnanensis in southwestern China. We investigated behavioral responses within and between these two species during the shoot-feeding phase using walking bioassays. We also identified the pheromonal aspects of beetles by static solid phase microextraction (SPME) and hindgut extraction following interactive communication by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Both species were significantly attracted by their own species and the same sex, and attraction was inhibited by exposure to additional beetles or to the hindgut extracts of beetles which had shown interaction. Female and male T. minor and T. yunnanensis hindguts contained 0.19, 0.09, 0.22, and 0.05 ng/individual of (−)-trans-verbenol, respectively; following interaction with additional beetles, this increased to 16.74–292.71 ng/individual in T. minor females. Mean concentration of verbenone detected in the hindguts of female/male individuals of T. minor and T. yunnanensis under natural conditions were 0.16, 0.06, 0.03, and 0.05 ng/individual, respectively, but these correspondingly increased to 5.90, 2.43, 0.06, and 0.19 ng/individual after exposure to additional insects. In T. yunnanensis, the amounts of detectable (−)-trans-verbenol and verbenone extracted from hindguts were lower than those from T. minor. The levels of cis-verbenol and (−)-trans-verbenol most attractive to walking T. yunnanensis and T. minor were 0.1 and 1.0 ng/μl, respectively. Verbenone was not attractive at any of the concentrations tested. The addition of verbenone to cis-verbenol or (−)-trans-verbenol reduced the attraction responses. We conclude that the (−)-trans-verbenol produced by these two pine shoot beetles is attractive at low concentrations and repellant at high concentrations, thereby fostering intraspecific competition. Verbenone is produced to prevent overcrowding via interspecific inhibition, and to expel beetles during shoot-feeding.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aurélien S, Raffa KF (2010) Interactions among intraspecific competition, emergence patterns, and host selection behaviour in Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytinae). Ecol Entomol 32(2):162–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayres BD, Abrahamson MD, Teale SA (2001) Resource partitioning and overlap in three sympatric species of Ips bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Oecologia (Berlin) 128(3):443–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berryman AA, Pienaar LV (1973) Simulation of intraspecific competition and survival of Scolytus ventralis broods (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Environ Entomol 2:447–460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Browne LE, Wood DL, Bedard WD, Silverstein RM, West JR (1979) Quantitative estimates of the western pine beetle attractive pheromone components, exo-brevicomin, frontalin, and myrcene in nature. J Chem Ecol 5:397–414

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Byers JA (1981) Effect of mating on terminating aggregation during host colonization in the bark beetle, Ips paraconfusus. J Chem Ecol 7:1135–1147

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Byers JA (2012) Bark beetles, Pityogenes bidentatus, orienting to aggregation pheromone avoid conifer monoterpene odors when flying but not when walking. Psyche J Entomol:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/940962

  • Byers JA, Wood DL (1981) Interspecific effects of pheromones on the attraction of the bark beetles, Dendroctonus brevicomis and Ips paraconfusus in the laboratory. J Chem Ecol 7:9–18

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Byers JA, Wood DL, Craig J, Hendry LB (1984) Attractive and inhibitory pheromones produced in the bark beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis, during host colonization: regulation of inter-and intraspecific competition. J Chem Ecol 10:861–877

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Byers JA, Lanne BS, Löfqvist J, Schlyter F, Bergström G (1985) Olfactory recognition of host-tree susceptibility by pine shoot beetles. Naturwissenschaften 72:324–326

  • Byers JA, Högberg HE, Unelius CR, Birgersson G, Löfqvist J (1989) Structure-activity studies on aggregation pheromone components of Pityogenes chalcographus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). J Chem Ecol 15:685–695

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Byers JA, Birgersson G, Francke W (2013) Aggregation pheromones of bark beetles, Pityogenes quadridens and P. bidentatus, colonizing Scotch pine: olfactory avoidance of interspecific mating and competition. Chemoecology 23:251–261

  • Byers JA, Maoz Y, Wakarchuk D, Fefer D, Levi, Zada A (2018) Inhibitory effects of semiochemicals on the attraction of an ambrosia beetle Euwallacea, nr. fornicatus, to quercivorol. J Chem Ecol:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-018-0959-8

  • Devlin DR, Borden JH (1994) Efficacy of antiaggregants for the pine engraver, Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Can. J Forest Res 24:2469–2476

    Google Scholar 

  • Duan Y, Kerdelhué C, Ye H, Lieutier F (2004) Genetic study of the forest pest Tomicus piniperda (Col., Scolytinae) in Yunnan province (China) compared to Europe: new insights for the systematics and evolution of the genus Tomicus. Heredity 93:416

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Etxebeste I, Pajares JA (2011) Verbenone protects pine trees from colonization by the six–toothed pine bark beetle, Ips sexdentatus Boern. (Col.: Scolytinae). J Appl Entomol 135:258–268

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fettig CJ, Mckelvey SR, Dabney CP, Borys RR, Huber DPW (2009) Response of Dendroctonus brevicomis to different release rates of nonhost angiosperm volatiles and verbenone in trapping and tree protection studies. J Appl Entomol 133:143–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Francke W, Heemann V (1976) Das Duftstoff-bouquet des Großen Waldgärtners Blastophagus piniperda L. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). J Appl Entomol 82:117–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulcr J, Mann R, Stelinski LL (2011) The scent of a partner: ambrosia beetles are attracted to volatiles from their fungal symbionts. J Chem Ecol 37:1374–1377

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt DWA, Borden JH (1989) Terpene alcohol pheromone production by Dendroctonus ponderosae and Ips paraconfusus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in the absence of readily culturable microorganisms. J Chem Ecol 15:1433–1463

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khan ZR, James DG, Midega CAO, Pickett JA (2008) Chemical ecology and conservation biological control. Biol Control 45(2):210–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkendall LR, Faccoli M, Ye H (2008) Description of the Yunnan shoot borer, Tomicus yunnanensis Kirkendall & Faccoli sp. n. (Curculionidae, Scolytinae), an unusually aggressive pine shoot beetle from southern China, with a key to the species of Tomicus. Zootaxa 1819:25–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhns EH, Tribuiani Y, Martini X, Meyer WL, Peña J, Hulcr J, Lukasz LS (2014) Volatiles from the symbiotic fungus Raffaelea lauricola are synergistic with manuka lures for increased capture of the redbay ambrosia beetle Xyleborus glabratus. Agri. Forest Entomol 16:87–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lacey ES, Ginzel MD, Millar JG, Hanks LM (2004) Male-produced aggregation pheromone of the cerambycid beetle Neoclytus acuminatus acuminatus. J Chem Ecol 30(8):1493–1507

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Långström B, Hellqvist C (1993) Induced and spontaneous attacks by pine shoot beetles on young scots pine trees: tree mortality and beetle performance. J Appl Entomol 115:25–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Långström B, Lisha L, Hongpin L, Peng C, Haoran L, Hellqvist C, Lieutier F (2002) Shoot feeding ecology of Tomicus piniperda and T. minor (Col., Scolytidae) in southern China. J Appl Entomol 126:333–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lanne BS, Schlyter F, Byers JA, Löfqvist J, Leufvén A, Bergström G, der Pers JNC V, Unelius R, Baeckström P, Norin T (1987) Differences in attraction to semiochemicals present in sympatric pine shoot beetles, Tomicus minor and T piniperda. J Chem Ecol 13:1045–1067

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Zhang Z, Wang HB, Wu W, Cao P, Zhang PY (2010) Tomicus armandii Li & Zhang (Curculionidae, Scolytinae), a new pine shoot borer from China. Zootaxa 2572(2572): 57–64

  • Lieutier F, Ye H, Yart A (2003) Shoot damage by Tomicus sp. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and effect on Pinus yunnanensis resistance to subsequent reproductive attacks in the stem. Agr. Forest Entomol 5:227–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Light DM, Birch MC, Paine TD (1983) Laboratory study of intraspecific and interspecific competition within and between two sympatric bark beetle species, Ips pini and I paraconfusus. J Appl Entomol 96:233–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindgren BS, Miller DR (2015) Effect of verbenone on five species of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in lodgepole pine forests. Environ Entomol 31:759–765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Zhang L, Sun J (2006) Attacking behavior and behavioral responses to dust volatiles from holes bored by the red turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus valens (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Environ Entomol 35:1030–1036

  • Liu H, Zhang Z, Ye H, Wang HB, Clarke SR, Lu J (2010) Response of Tomicus yunnanensis (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) to infested and uninfested Pinus yunnanensis bolts. Forest Entomol 103:95–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu J, Zhao T, Ye H (2014) The shoot-feeding ecology of three Tomicus species in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. J Insect Sci 14:37. https://doi.org/10.1093/jis/14.1.37

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Miller KR, Cowles RS (1990) Stimulo-deterrent diversion: a concept and its possible application to onion maggot control. J Chem Ecol 16(11):3197–3212

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller DR, Rabaglia RJ (2009) Ethanol and (−)-α-pinene: attractant kairomones for bark and ambrosia beetles in the southeastern US. J Chem Ecol 35(4):435–448

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Payne TL, Coster JE, Richerson JV, Edson LJ, Hart ER (1978) Field response of the southern pine beetle to behavioral chemicals. Environ Entomol 7:578–582

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peverieri GS, Faggi M, Marziali L, Panzavolt T, Bonuomo L, Tiberi R (2016) Use of attractant and repellent substances to control Tomicus destruens (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Pinus pinea and P. pinaster pine forests of Tuscany. Entomologica 38:91–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitman GB, Vité JP, Kinzer GW, Fentiman AF (1969) Specificity of population-aggregating pheromones in Dendroctonus. J Insect Physiol 15:363–366

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poland TM, De Groot P, Burke S, Wakarchuk D, Haack RA, Nott R, Scarr T (2003) Development of an improved attractive lure for the pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Agr Forest Entomol 5:293–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renwick JAA (1967) Identification of two oxygenated terpenes from the bark beetles Dendroctonus frontalis and Dendroctonus brevicomis. Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst 23:355–360

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudinsky JA (1973) Multiple functions of the southern pine beetle, pheromone verbenone. Environ Entomol 2:511–514

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryker LC, Yandell KL (1983) Effect of verbenone on aggregation of Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins (Coleoptera, Scolytidae) to synthetic attractant. J Appl Entomol 96:452–459

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seybold SJ, Huber DPW, Lee JC, Graves AD, Bohlmann J (2006) Pine monoterpenes and pine bark beetles: a marriage of convenience for defense and chemical communication. Phytochem Rev 5:143–178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith MT, Payne TL, Borch MC (1990) Olfactory-based behavioral interactions among five species in the southern pine bark beetle group. J Chem Ecol 16:3317–3331

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sun JH, Clarke SR, Kang L, Wang HB (2005) Field trials of potential attractants and inhibitors for pine shoot beetles in the Yunnan province, China. Ann Forest Sci 62:9–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Zhang Z, Kong X, Wang H, Zhang S (2015) Intraspecific and interspecific attraction of three Tomicus beetle species during the shoot-feeding phase. Bull Entomol Res 105:225–233

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wei J, Shao W, Wang X, Ge J, Chen X, Yu D, Kang L (2017) Composition and emission dynamics of migratory locust volatiles in response to changes in developmental stages and population density. Insect Sci 24(1):60–72

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wood SL, Bright DE (1992) A catalogue of Scolytidae and Platypodidae (Coleoptera), part 2: taxonomic index. Vols A and B Great Basin Nat Mem 13:1–1553

    Google Scholar 

  • Ye H, Ding XS (1999) Impacts of Tomicus minor on distribution and reproduction of Tomicus piniperda (Col., Scolytidae) on the trunk of the living Pinus yunnanensis trees. J Appl Entomol 123:329–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye H, Lieutier F (1997) Shoot aggregation by Tomicus piniperda L (col: Scolytidae) in Yunnan, southwestern China. Ann. For Sci 54:635–641

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang LY, Chen QC, Zhang XB (2006) Studies on the morphological characters and bionomics of Dendroctonus valens LeConte. Sci Silvae Sinicae 38:95–99

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their comments which significantly improved the manuscript. We also sincerely thank Sun Fucun and Wang Huiming for their assistance during the fieldwork. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 31370655).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, People’s Republic of China

    C. X. Wu, F. Liu, S. F. Zhang, X. B. Kong & Z. Zhang

Authors
  1. C. X. Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. F. Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. X. B. Kong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Z. Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to F. Liu or Z. Zhang.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 86 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wu, C.X., Liu, F., Zhang, S.F. et al. Semiochemical Regulation of the Intraspecific and Interspecific Behavior of Tomicus yunnanensis and Tomicus minor during the Shoot-Feeding Phase. J Chem Ecol 45, 227–240 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-019-01048-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-019-01048-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation