Abstract
The feeding deterrent activity of fractions from the foliage of western red cedar,Thujaplicata Donn, was studied in laboratory bioassays using the white pine weevil,Pissodes strobi Peck, as a test insect. The most active fraction was the volatile mixture that comprises the leaf oil of this tree species. Further fractionation of the leaf oil indicated feeding deterrent activity in the monoterpene hydrocarbon, thujone, and terpene alcohol fractions. When tested alone, both (−)-3-isothujone and (+)-3-thujone, which made up 75–88% and 5–10% of the leaf oil, respectively, deterred feeding by the weevils. Western red cedar leaf oil also showed antifeedant activity with the alder flea beetle,Altica ambiens (Le Conte), and served as an oviposition deterrent for the onion root maggot,Hylemya antiqua Meigen. The leaf oil, however, had no inhibitory effect on the feeding of the leaf roller,Epinotia solandriana L., and the red-backed sawfly,Eriocampa ovata L.
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References
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Research supported by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council, Canada, Co-op Grant No. A0243 and Operating Grant Nos. A3881 and A3706, and by the British Columbia Ministry of Labour Youth Employment Program.
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Alfaro, R.I., Pierce, H.D., Borden, J.H. et al. Insect feeding and oviposition deterrents from western red cedar foliage. J Chem Ecol 7, 39–48 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988634
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Key words
- Insect feeding deterrents
- antifeedants
- Pissodes strobi Peck
- Coleoptera
- Curculionidae
- Thuja plicata Donn