Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Female Responses to Synthetic Pheromone and Plant Compounds in Agriotes brevis Candeze (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

  • Published:
Journal of Insect Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Traps baited with synthetic pheromone components of Agriotes brevis [geranyl butanoate + (E,E)-farnesyl butanoate] captured significantly higher numbers of not only male, but also female beetles, compared to unbaited controls. Catches of both sexes showed a clear positive relationship with increasing doses. In electroantennogram tests, antennal responses of females and males to a number of known Agriotes pheromone components, identified from pheromone glands, showed a similar trend, with geranyl butanoate eliciting the strongest responses. This suggests that the female and male A. brevis antennae are similar with respect to the perception of pheromone compounds, and female beetles have the sensory capabilities to perceive the pheromone components which they produce. Addition of the plant-derived compounds (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, methyl benzoate, (Z)-3-hexenol and methyl salicylate (identified earlier from foliage as attractive for A. brevis) to the synthetic pheromone significantly increased catches. All the above results suggest that geranyl butanoate and (E,E)-farnesyl butanoate are constituents of an aggregation pheromone of A. brevis, in contrast to the general view of click beetle pheromones being “classical” sex pheromones. These findings could be useful for more precise monitoring and forecasting of damage, based on female catches.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Dunn OJ (1961) Multiple comparisons among means. J Am Stat Assoc 56:52–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Grandon GM, Woodcock CM, Poppy GM (2013) Do asexual morphs of the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae, utilise the aphid sex pheromone? Behavioural and electrophysiological responses of M. persicae virginoparae to (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone and its effect on aphid. Bull Entomol Res 103:466–472. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485313000126

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Francke W, Dettner K (2005) Chemical signalling in beetles. Top Curr Chem 240:85–166. https://doi.org/10.1007/b98316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furlan L (1998) The biology of Agriotes ustulatus Schaller (Col., Elateridae). II. Larval development, pupation, whole cycle description and practical implications. J Appl Entomol 122:71–78. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0418.1998.tb01464.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furlan L (2004) The biology of Agriotes sordidus Illiger (Col., Elateridae). J Appl Entomol 128:696–706. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0418.2004.00914.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furlan L (2014) IPM thresholds for Agriotes wireworm species in maize in southern Europe. J Pest Sci 87:609–617. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-014-0583-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furlan L, Gnes C (2003) Improved trap for insects. EP 1334660 A1

  • Furlan L, Tóth M, Ujváry I (1997) The suitability of sex pheromone traps for implementing IPM strategies against Agriotes populations (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Proceedings of XIX IWGO conference, Guimaraes, Portugal, August 30–September 5, 1997, pp 173-182

  • Furlan L, Curto G, Ferrari R, Boriani L, Bourlot G, Turchi A (2000) Le specie di Elateridi dannose alle colture agrarie nella Pianura Padana. Informatore Fitopatologico 5:53–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Furlan L, Tóth M, Yatsynin VG, Ujváry I (2001a) The project to implement IPM strategies against Agriotes species in Europe: what has been done and what is still to be done. Proceedings of XXI IWGO Conference, Legnaro, Italy, October 27–November 3, 2001, pp 253-261

  • Furlan L, Tóth M, Parker WE, Ivezić M, Pancic S, Brmez M, Dobrinĉić R, Barĉić JI, Muresan F, Subchev M, Toshova T, Molnar Z, Ditsch B, Voigt D (2001b) The efficacy of the new Agriotes sex pheromone traps in detecting wireworm population levels in different European countries. Proceedings of XXI IWGO Conference, Legnaro, Italy, October 27–November 3, 2001, pp 293–304

  • Furlan L, Tóth M, Cooperators (2007) Occurrence of click beetle pest spp. (Coleoptera, Elateridae) in Europe as detected by pheromone traps: survey results of 1998-2006. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 30:19–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Furlan L, Contiero B, Chiarini F, Colauzzi M, Sartori E, Benevegnù I, Giandon P (2017) Risk assessment of maize damage by wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) as the first step in implementing IPM and in reducing the environmental impact of soil insecticides. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 24:236–251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7692-z

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gomboc S, Milevoj L, Furlan L, Tóth M, Bitenc P, Bobnar A, Celar F (2001) Two-years of monitoring click beetles and wireworms in Slovenia. Proceedings of XXI IWGO Conference, Legnaro, Italy, October 27–November 3, 2001, pp 283-292

  • Ivaschenko II, Adamenko EA (1980) Site of pheromone production in females of the click beetle Selatosomus latus (Coleoptera, Elateridae) (in Russian). Zool Zhurnal 59:225–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Kudryavtsev I, Siirde K, Lääts K, Ismailov V, Pristavko V (1993) Determination of distribution of harmful click beetle species (Coleoptera, Elateridae) by synthetic sex pheromones. J Chem Ecol 19:1607–1611. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00982295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malo EA, Castrejón-Gómez VR, Cruz-López L, Rojas JC (2014) Antennal sensilla and electrophysiological response of male and female Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to conspecific sex pheromone and plant odors. Ann Entomol Soc Am 97:1273–1284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masler V (1982) Skodlivé druhy kovácikovitych (Coleoptera, Elateridae) na Slovensku a ochrana proti nim. Polnohospodárska veda 3/82, Vydavatelstvo Slovenskej Akademie Vied, Bratislava, 128 p

  • Oleschenko IN, Ismailov VY, Soone JH, Lääts KV, Kudryavtsev IB (1987) A trap for pests (in Russian). USSR Author's Cer. No. 1233312. Byull. Izobretenii 11:299 (in Russian)

  • Oleshchenko I, Ivashchenko II, Adamenko EA (1976) Biological activity of sex pheromones of female click beetles. Selskokhozyaistvennaya Biologiya 11:256–258 (in Russian)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Platia G (1994) Coleoptera, Elateridae. In: Fauna d'Italia, 33 - Edizioni Calderini, Bologna, 429 p (in Italian)

  • Reddy GVP, Guerrero A (2004) Interactions of insect pheromones and plant semiochemicals. Trends Plant Sci 9:253–261

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roelofs WL (1977) The scope and limitations of the electroantennogram technique in identifying pheromone components. In: McFarlane NR (ed) Crop protection agents - their biological evaluation, academic press, New York, pp 147–165

  • Roelofs WL, Cardé RT (1977) Responses of Lepidoptera to synthetic sex pheromone chemicals and their analogues. Annu Rev Entomol 22:377–405. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.22.010177.002113

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph K (1974) Beitrag zur kenntnis der Elateridenlarven der Fauna der DDR und der BRD. Zool Jb Syst 101:1–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Rusek J (1972a) Agriotes brevis und Agriotes sordidus (Coleoptera, Elateridae) – Schädlinge in N-Italien. Redia 53:321–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Rusek J (1972b) Die mitteleuropäischen Agriotes- und Ectinus-Arten (Coleoptera, Elateridae) mit besonderer Berücksichtigung von A. brevis und den in Feldkulturen lebenden Arten. Academia Praha, 269 p

  • Ruther J, Meiners T, Steidle JLM (2002) Rich in phenomena-lacking in terms. A classification of kairomones. Chemoecol 12:161–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siirde K, Lääts K, Erm A, Kogerman A, Kudryavtsev I, Ismailov V, Pristavko V (1993) Structure-activity relationships of synthetic pheromone components in sex communication of click beetles (Coleoptera, Elateridae). J Chem Ecol 19:1597–1606. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00982294

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Subchev M, Toshova T, Mladenov E, Furlan L, Tóth M (2010) Click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) and their swarming as established by pheromone traps in different plant habitats in Bulgaria: 4. Tobacco. Acta Zool Bulg 62:187–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Tóth Z (1990) Family: Elateridae. In: Jermy T, Balázs K (eds) Handbook of plant protection zoology 3/A. Akadémiai Press, Budapest, pp 30–70 (in Hungarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tóth M (2013) Pheromones and attractants of click beetles - an overview. J Pest Sci 86:3–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-012-0429-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tóth M, Furlan L, Yatsynin V, Ujváry I, Szarukán I, Imrei Z, Subchev M, Tolasch T, Francke W (2002) Identification of sex pheromone composition of click beetle Agriotes brevis Candeze. J Chem Ecol 28:1641–1652. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019984714858

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tóth M, Furlan L, Yatsynin VG, Ujváry I, Szarukán I, Imrei Z, Tolasch T, Francke W, Jossi W (2003) Identification of pheromones and optimization of bait composition for click beetle pests in central and Western Europe (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Pest Manag Sci 59:417–425. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.629

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tóth M, Furlan L, Vuts J, Szarukán I, Ujváry I, Yatsynin VG, Tolasch T, Francke W (2015) Geranyl hexanoate, the female produced pheromone of Agriotes sordidus Illiger (Coleoptera: Elateridae) and its activity on both sexes. Chemoecology 25:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-014-0170-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vuts J, Tolasch T, Furlan L, Bálintné Csonka É, Felföldi T, Márialigeti K, Toshova T, Subchev M, Xavier A, Tóth M (2012) Agriotes proximus and A. lineatus (Coleoptera: Elateridae): a comparative study on the pheromone composition and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequence. Chemoecology 22:23–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-011-0091-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vuts J, Furlan L, Bálintné Csonka É, Woodcock CM, Caulfield JC, Mayon P, Pickett JA, Birkett MA, Tóth M (2014a) Development of a female attractant for the click beetle pest Agriotes brevis. Pest Manag Sci 70:610–614. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.3589

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vuts J, Imrei Z, Birkett MA, Pickett JA, Woodcock CM, Tóth M (2014b) Semiochemistry of the Scrabaeoidea. J Chem Ecol 40:190–210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-014-0377-5

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wall C (1989) Evaluation and use of behaviour-modifying chemicals. In: Jutsum AR, Gordon RFS (eds) Insect pheromones in plant protection. Chicester, Wiley, pp 39–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Wertheim B, van Baalen E-JA, Dicke M, Vet LEM (2005) Pheromone-mediated aggregation in nonsocial arthropods: an evolutionary ecological perspective. Annu Rev Entomol 50:321–346

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Witzgall P, Kirsch P, Cork A (2010) Sex pheromones and their impact on pest management. J Chem Ecol 36:80–100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-009-9737-y

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wood DL (1982) The role of pheromones, kairomones, and allomones in the host selection and colonization behavior of bark beetles. Annu Rev Entomol 27:411–446. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.27.010182.002211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yatsynin VG, Rubanova EV, Okhrimenko NV (1996) Identification of female-produced sex pheromones and their geographical differences in pheromone gland extract composition from click beetles (Col., Elateridae). J Appl Entomol 120:463–466. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0418.1996.tb01636.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The present study was partially supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA) grant K104294 of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, UK

    József Vuts

  2. Veneto Agricoltura, Viale della Università, 14 – Agripolis, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy

    Lorenzo Furlan

  3. Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, POB 102, Budapest, H-1525, Hungary

    Miklós Tóth

Authors
  1. József Vuts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lorenzo Furlan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Miklós Tóth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to József Vuts.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

In memoriam Venyamin G. Yatsynin - his scientific achievements keep him among us.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vuts, J., Furlan, L. & Tóth, M. Female Responses to Synthetic Pheromone and Plant Compounds in Agriotes brevis Candeze (Coleoptera: Elateridae). J Insect Behav 31, 106–117 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-018-9668-y

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-018-9668-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation