Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Responses of the Mediterranean Pine Shoot Beetle Tomicus destruens (Wollaston) to Pine Shoot and Bark Volatiles

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

Abstract

The pine shoot beetle Tomicus destruens has two dispersal phases per generation. In the first, mature adults move toward trunks of dying pines to lay eggs; in the second, callow adults move toward the shoots of healthy pines for maturation feeding. However, there is no information on the chemical stimuli that govern host selection by T. destruens adults. The aims of this study were: (1) to identify the volatiles released by shoots and bark of stone pine that are behaviorally and electrophysiologically active on T. destruens; (2) to verify which blends and concentrations of such volatiles are differently active on males and females, as well as on callow and mature adults, during the two host search phases (breeding and feeding). A four-arm olfactometer was used to test the behavior of walking T. destruens adults toward various sources of volatiles including fresh shoots and bark, their collected volatiles, and two synthetic blends. For each odor, the behavior of both callow and mature males and females was recorded individually. Shoot and bark extracts were analyzed by coupled gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and tested by gas chromatography coupled with electroantennography (GC–EAD) on T. destruens males and females. Two blends of two (α-pinene and β-myrcene; blend A) and three (α-pinene, β- myrcene, and α-terpinolene; blend B) synthetic compounds, chosen among those that induce EAD responses and known to be attractive for other bark beetle species, were tested in the olfactometer at five concentrations. Insect behavior was affected by the degree of sexual maturation but not by sex. Callow insects were attracted by shoots and their extracts, while mature individuals by bark and its extracts. Six extracted compounds were active on T. destruens antennae: limonene, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol and β-caryophyllene, α-pinene, β-myrcene, and α-terpinolene. α-Terpinolene, released only by bark, was active only on mature insects, whereas (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, released only by shoots, was active only on callows. Males and females showed similar EAD responses. Of the six extracted volatiles, two were attractive for callow adults (blend A) and three for matures (blend B). In both cases, responses were positively correlated with blend concentration, although a repellent effect was noted at the highest concentrations.

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

  • Arn, H., Städler, E., and Rauscher, S. 1975. The electroantennographic detector—a selective and sensitive tool in the gas chromatographic analysis of insect pheromones. Z. Naturforsch. 30:722–725.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ascher, K. R. S., Gurevitz, E., Renneh, S., and Nemny, N. E. 1975. The penetration of females of the fruit bark beetle Scolytus mediterraneus Eggers into antifeedant-treated twigs in laboratory tests. Zeit. Pflanz. Pflanz. 82:378–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bengtsson, M., Bäckman, A.-C., Liblikas, I., Ramirez, M. I., Borg-Karlson, A. K., Ansebo, L., Anderson, P., Löfqvist, J., and Witzgall, P. 2001. Plant odor analysis of apple: antennal response of codling moth females to apple volatiles during phenological development. J. Agric. Food Chem. 49:3736–3741.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borg-Karlson, A. K., Persson, M., Christiansson, A., Fäldt, J., Långström, B., Li, L., Liu, H., Zhou, N., and Lieutier, F. 1999. Relative amounts and enantiomeric compositions of monoterpene hydrocarbons in Pinus yunnanensis and Pinus sylvestris, pp. 101–110, in F. Lieutier, W. J. Mattson, and M. R. Wagner (eds.). Physiology and Genetics of Tree–Phytophage Interactions. INRA Editions, Versailles.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byers, J. A. 1989. Chemical ecology of bark beetles. Experientia 45:271–283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Byers, J. 1995. Host-tree chemistry affecting colonization in bark beetles, pp. 154–193, in R. T. Cardè, and W. J. Bell (eds.). Chemical Ecology of Insects, 2. Chapman & Hall, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byers, J. A., Lanne, B. S., Löfqvist, J., Schlyter, F., and Bergström, G. 1985. Olfactory recognition of host-tree susceptibility by pine shoot beetles. Naturwissenschaften 72:324–326.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Byers, J. A., Zhang, Q. H., Schlyter, F., and Birgersson, G. 1998. Volatiles from nonhost birch trees inhibit pheromone response in spruce bark beetles. Naturwissenschaften 85:557–561.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Byers, J. A., Zhang, Q. H., and Birgersson, G. 2004. Avoidance of nonhost plants by a bark beetle, Pityogenes bidentatus, in a forest of odors. Naturwissenschaften 91:215–219.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carle, P. 1974. Mise en évidence d’une attraction secondaire d’origine sexuelle chez Blastophagus destruens Woll. (Col. Scolytidae). Ann. Zool. et Écol. Anim. 6:539–550.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carle, P. 1978. Essais d’attraction en laboratoire et en forêt de Blastophagus (piniperda L. et destruens Woll.). Colloques de l’INRA 38:92–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carle, P., Descoins, C., and Gallois, M. 1978. Phéromones des Blastophagus (piniperda L. et destruens Woll.). Colloques de l’INRA 38:87–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chararas, C. 1962. Scolytides des Conifères. Encyclopédie Entomologique 37. Lechevalier, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Czokajlo, D., and Teale, S. A. 1999. Synergistic effect of ethanol to α-pinene in primary attraction of the larger pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda. J. Chem. Ecol. 25:1121–1130.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dickens, J. C. 1981. Behavioral and electrophysiological responses of the bark beetle Ips typographus to potential pheromone components. Phys. Entomol. 6:251–261.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duan, Y., Kerdelhué, C., Ye, H., and Lieutier, F. 2004. Genetic study of the forest pest Tomicus piniperda (Coleoptera, Scolytidae) in Yunnan Province (China) compared to Europe: new insights for the systematic and evolution of the genus Tomicus. Heredity 93:416-422.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eidmann, H. H. 1977. Recognition of the trophic environment in requisite governed forest insects. Coll. Internat. C.N.R.S Paris 265:151–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faccoli, M. 2006. Morphological separation of Tomicus piniperda and T. destruens (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae): new and old characters. Eur. J. Entomol. 103:433–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faccoli, M. 2007. Breeding performance and longevity of Tomicus destruens on Mediterranean and continental pine species. Ent. Exp. Appl. 123:266–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faccoli, M., Battisti, A., and Masutti, L. 2005a. Phenology of Tomicus destruens (Wollaston) in northern Italian pine stands, pppp. 185–193, in F. Lieutier, and D. Ghaioule (eds.). Entomological Research in Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems. INRA Editions, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faccoli, M., Blaženec, M., and Schlyter, F. 2005b. Feeding response to host and non-host compounds by males and females of the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus in a tunnelling microassay. J. Chem. Ecol. 31:745–759.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faccoli, M., Piscedda, A., Salvato, P., Simonato, M., Masutti, L., and Battisti, A. 2005c. Phylogeography of the pine shoot beetles Tomicus destruens and T. piniperda (Coleoptera Scolytidae) in Italy. Ann. Forest Sci. 62:361–368.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero, A., Feixas, J., Pajares, J., Wadhams, L. J., Pickett, J. A., and Woodcock, C. M. 1997. Semiochemically induced inhibition of behavior of Tomicus destruens (Woll.) (Coleoptera Scolytidae). Naturwissenschaften 84:155–157.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Idzojtic, M., Kajba, D., and Franjic, J. 2005. Differentiation of F1 hybrids P. nigra J. F. Arnold x P. sylvestris L., P. nigra J. F. Arnold x P. densiflora Siebold et Zucc., P. nigra J. F. Arnold x P. thunbergiana Franco and their parental species by needle volatile composition. Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 33:427–439.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R. L., Lewis, W. J., Bowman, M. C., Beroza, M., and Bierl, B. A. 1971. Host-seeking stimulant for a parasite of the corn earworm: isolation, identification and synthesis. Science 173:842–843.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaissling, K.-E. 1987. R. H. Wright Lectures on Insect Olfaction. Colbow K., Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada.

  • Kimmerer, T. W., and Kozlowski, T. T. 1982. Ethylene, ethane, acetaldehyde and ethanol production by plants under stress. Plant Phys. 69:840–847.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Långström, B. 1980. Distribution of pine shoot beetle attacks within the crown of Scots pine. Studia For. Suec. 154:1–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Långström, B. 1983. Life cycles and shoot-feeding of the pine shoot beetles. Studia For. Suec. 163:1–29.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lanne, B. S., Schlyter, F., Byers, J. A., Löfqvist, J., Leufvén, A., Bergström, G., Van Der Pers, J. N. C., Unelius, R., Baeckstrom, P., and 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  Google Scholar 

  • Macchioni, F., Cioni, P. L., Flamini, G., Morelli, I., Maccioni, S., and Ansaldi, M. 2003. Chemical composition of essential oils from needles, branches and cones of Pinus pinea, P. halepensis, P. pinaster and P. nigra from central Italy. Flavour Fragr. J. 18:139–143.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perttunen, V., Oksanen, H., and Kangas, E. 1970. Aspects of the external and internal factors affecting the olfactory orientation of Blastophagus piniperda (Coleoptera, Scolytidae). Contrib. Boyce Thompson Inst. 24:293–297.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pettersson, J. 1970. An aphid sex attractant, I. Biological studies. Entomol. Scand. 1:63–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poland, T. M., and Haack, R. A. 2000. Tomicus piniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytidae): is shoot-feeding required for reproductive maturation? The Great Lakes Entomol. 33:9–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poland, T. M., de Groot, P., Burke, S., Wakarchuk, D., Haack, R. A., and Nott, R. 2004. Semiochemical disruption of the pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Environ. Entomol. 33:221–226.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sabbatini Peverieri, G., Faggi, M., Marziali, L., Panzavolta, T., Bonuomo, L., and Tiberi, R. 2004. Use of attractant and repellant substances to control Tomicus destruens (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Pinus pinea and P. pinaster pine forests of Tuscany. Entomologica 38:91–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlyter, F., Birgersson, G., and Leufvén, A. 1989. Inhibition of attraction to aggregation pheromone by verbenone and ipsenol. Density regulation mechanisms in bark beetle Ips typographus. J. Chem. Ecol. 15:2263–2277.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schröeder, L. M., and Eidmann, H. H. 1987. Gallery initiation by Tomicus piniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) on Scots pine trees baited with host volatiles. J. Chem. Ecol. 13:1591–1599.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schröeder, L. M., and Lindelöw, A. 1989. Attraction of scolytids and associated beetles by different absolute amounts and proportions of alpha-pinene and ethanol. J. Chem. Ecol. 15:807–817.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tasin, M., Anfora, G., Ioriatti, C., Carlin, S., De Cristofaro, A., Schmidt, S., Bengtsson, M., Versini, G., and Witzgall, P. 2005. Antennal and behavioral responses of grapevine moth Lobesia botrana females to volatiles from grapevine. J. Chem. Ecol. 31:77–87.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vasconcelos, T., Branco, M., Goncalves, M., and Cabral, M. T. 2005. Periods of flying activity of Tomicus spp. in Portugal, pppp. 177–184, in F. Lieutier, and D. Ghaioule (eds.). Entomological Research in Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems. INRA Editions, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vet, L. E. M., van Lenteren, J. C., Heymans, M., and Meelis, F. 1983. An airflow olfactometer for measuring olfactory responses of hymenopterous parasitoids and other small insects. Phys. Entomol. 8:97–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallin, K. F., and Raffa, K. F. 2000. Influences of host chemicals and internal physiology on the multiple steps of post-landing host acceptance behavior of Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Environ. Entomol. 29:442–453.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webber, J. F., and Brasier, C. M. 1984. The transmission of Dutch Elm Disease: a study of the process involved, pp. 271–307, in J. Anderson, A. D. M. Rayner, and D. Walton (eds.). Invertebrate Microbial Interactions. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webber, J. F., and Gibbs, J. N. 1989. Insect dissemination of fungal pathogens of trees, pp. 161–189, in N. Wilding, N. M. Collins, P. M. Hammond, and J. F. Webber (eds.). Insect–Fungus Interactions. Academic, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, D. L. 1982. The role of pheromones, kairomones, and allomones in the host selection and colonization behavior of bark beetles. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 27:411–446.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ye, H. 1996. Studies on the biology of Tomicus piniperda (Col., Scolytidae) in the shoot feeding period. Acta Entomol. Sin. 39:58–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ye, H., and Lieutier, F. 1997. Shoot aggregation by Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Coleoptera Scolytidae) in Yunnan, South-western China. Ann. Forest Sc. 54:635–641.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zar, J. H. 1999. Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Q.-H., and Schlyter, F. 2004. Olfactory recognition and behavioural avoidance of angiosperm nonhost volatiles by conifer-inhabiting bark beetles. Agr. For. Entomol. 6:1–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Q., Liu, G., Schlyter, F., Birgersson, G., Anderson, P., and Valeur, P. 2001. Olfactory responses of Ips duplicatus from inner Mongolia, China to nonhost leaf and bark volatiles. J. Chem. Ecol. 27:995–1009.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Q.-H., Schlyter, F., Liu, G., Sheng, M., and Birgersson, G. 2007. Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of Ips duplicatus to aggregation pheromone in Inner Mongolia, China: amitinol as a potential pheromone component. J. Chem. Ecol. 33:1303–1315.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, T., Li, L. S., and Zhou, N. 2002. The attraction of Yunnan pine to pine shoot beetle and tree volatile compositions. J. Northeast For. Univ. 30:47–49.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Silvia Carlin and Francesco Nazzi for providing technical assistance and laboratory facilities. Special thanks go to Fredrik Schlyter, Francesco Loreto, Andrea Lucchi, and Andrea Battisti for helpful comments on earlier versions of the manuscript and to Gabriel Walton for linguistic proofreading. The research was partially funded by the Autonomous Province of Trento (SafeCrop Project).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Agronomy and Crop Sciences—Entomology, Agripolis—Viale dell’Università, 16/a-35020, Legnaro, Padua, Italy

    Massimo Faccoli

  2. Plant Protection Department, IASMA Research Center, Via E. Mach, 1-8010, San Michele all’Adige, Italy

    Gianfranco Anfora & Marco Tasin

  3. SafeCrop Centre—IASMA Research Center, Via E. Mach, 1-38010, San Michele all’Adige, Italy

    Gianfranco Anfora & Marco Tasin

Authors
  1. Massimo Faccoli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gianfranco Anfora
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marco Tasin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Massimo Faccoli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Faccoli, M., Anfora, G. & Tasin, M. Responses of the Mediterranean Pine Shoot Beetle Tomicus destruens (Wollaston) to Pine Shoot and Bark Volatiles. J Chem Ecol 34, 1162–1169 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-008-9503-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-008-9503-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation