Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Attractiveness of Harlequin Bug, Murgantia histrionica, Aggregation Pheromone: Field Response to Isomers, Ratios, and Dose

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

Abstract

A two-component pheromone, (3S,6S,7R,10S)- and (3S,6S,7R,10R)-10,11-epoxy-1-bisabolen-3-ol (murgantiol), present in emissions from adult male harlequin bugs, Murgantia histrionica, is most attractive in field bioassays to adults and nymphs in the naturally occurring ratio of ca. 1.4:1. Each of the two individual synthetic stereoisomers is highly attractive to male and female adults and nymphs, but is more attractive in combination and when deployed with a harlequin bug host plant. Blends of 8 stereoisomers also are highly attractive, suggesting that isomers not found in the natural pheromone are not repellent. Deployment of an inexpensive non-stereospecific synthetic pheromone holds promise for efficient trapping and/or use in trap-crops for this important pest in North America.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aldrich JR, Hoffmann MP, Kochansky JP, Lusby WR, Eger JE, Payne JA (1991) Identification and attractiveness of a major pheromone component for Nearctic Euschistus spp. stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Environ Entomol 20:477–483

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aldrich JR, Avery JW, Lee CJ, Graf JC, Harrison DJ, Bin F (1996) Semiochemistry of cabbage bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Eurydema and Murgantia). J Entomol Sci 31:172–182

  • Chittenden FH (1920) Harlequin cabbage bug and its control. USDA Farmers’ Bull 1061:16

    Google Scholar 

  • Čokl A, Prešern J, Virant-Doberlet M, Bagwell GJ, Millar JG (2004) Vibratory signals of the harlequin bug and their transmission through plants. Physiol Entomol 29:372–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagiwara H, Okabe T, Ono H, Kamat VP, Hoshi T, Suzuki T, Ando MJ (2002) Total synthesis of bisabolane sesquiterpenoids, α-bisabol-1-one, curcumene, curcuphenol and elvirol: utility of catalytic enamine reaction in cyclohexenone synthesis. Chem Soc Perkin Trans 1(7):895–900

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helmey-Hartman WL, Miller CW (2014) Context-dependent mating success in Murgantia histrionica (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 107:264–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James DG, Heffer R, Amaike M (1996) Field attraction of Biprorulus bibax Breddin (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to synthetic aggregation pheromone and (E)-2-hexenal, a pentatomid defense chemical. J Chem Ecol 22:1697–1708

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khrimian A, Shearer PW, Zhang A, Hamilton GC, Aldrich JR (2008) Field trapping of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, with geometric isomers of methyl 2,4,6-decatrienoate. J Agric Food Chem 56:197–203

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khrimian A, Shirali S, Vermillion KE, Siegler MA, Guzman F, Chauhan K, Aldrich JR, Weber DC (2014a) Stereochemical determination of the aggregation pheromone of harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). J. Chem. Ecol., in press.

  • Khrimian A, Zhang A, Weber DC, Ho H-Y, Aldrich JR, Vermillion KE, Siegler MA, Shirali S, Guzman F, Leskey TC (2014b) Discovery of the aggregation pheromone of the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) through the creation of stereoisomeric libraries of 1-bisabolen-3-ols. J Nat Prod 77:1708–1717

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krupke CH, Brunner JF, Doerr MD, Kahn AD (2001) Field attraction of the stink bug Euschistus conspersus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) to synthetic pheromone-baited host plants. J Econ Entomol 94:1500–1505

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krupke CH, Jones VP, Brunner JF (2006) Diel periodicity of Euschistus conspersus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) aggregation, mating and feeding. Ann Entomol Soc Am 99:169–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krupke CH, Jones VP, Brunner JF (2011) Evaluating aggregation membership and copulatory success in the stink bug, Euschistus conspersus, using field and laboratory experiments. J Insect Sci 11:2

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leal WS, Higuchi H, Mizutani N, Nakamori H, Kadosawa T, Ono M (1995) Multifunctional communication in Riptortus clavatus (Heteroptera: Alydidae): Conspecific nymphs and egg parasitoid Ooencyrtus nezarae use the same adult attractant pheromone as chemical cue. J Chem Ecol 21:973–985

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leskey TC, Wright SE, Short BD, Khrimian A (2012) Development of behaviorally based monitoring tools for the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in commercial tree fruit orchards. J Entomol Sci 47:76–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry, R (2014) VassarStats: Website for Statistical Computation. http://vassarstats.net. Accessed 30 May

  • Ludwig SW, Kok LT (1998) Evaluation of trap crops to manage harlequin bugs, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) on broccoli. Crop Prot 17:123–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendel Z, Jasrotia P, Protasov A, Kol-Maimon H, Zada AL, Franco JC (2012) Responses of second-instar male nymphs of four mealybug species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) to conspecific and heterospecific female sex pheromones. J Insect Behav 25:504–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Millar JG (2005) Pheromones of true bugs. Top Curr Chem 240:37–84

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panizzi AR (1997) Wild hosts of pentatomids: ecological significance and role in their pest status on crops. Annu Rev Entomol 42:99–122

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pezzullo JC (2014) The Interactive Statistical Pages. (http://StatPages.org) (Accessed 30 May)

  • SAS Institute (1998) StatView, vol 2. SAS Institute, Cary, NC

    Google Scholar 

  • Sant’Ana J, Bruni R, Abdul-Baki AA, Aldrich JR (1997) Pheromone-induced movement of nymphs of the predator, Podisus maculiventris (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Biol Control 10:123–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallingford AK (2012) Investigating host plant selection of harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn), in order to improve a trap cropping system for its management. Dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA

  • Wallingford AK, Kuhar TP, Pfeiffer DG, Tholl DB, Freeman JH, Doughty HB, Schultz PB (2013) Host plant preference of harlequin bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and evaluation of a trap cropping strategy for its control in collard. J Econ Entomol 106:283–288

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wallingford AK, Kuhar TP, Schultz PB, Freeman JH (2011) Harlequin bug biology and pest management in Brassicaceous crops. J Integr Pest Mgmt 2:H1–H4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber DC, Leskey TC, Cabrera Walsh G, Khrimian A (2014) Synergy of aggregation pheromone with methyl (E, E, Z)-2,4,6-decatrienoate in attraction of Halyomorpha halys(Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). J Econ Entomol 107:1061–1068

  • Zahn DK, Moreira JA, Millar JG (2008) Identification, synthesis, and bioassay of a male-specific aggregation pheromone from the harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica. J Chem Ecol 34:238–251

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zahn DK, Moreira JA, Millar JG (2012) Erratum to: Identification, synthesis, and bioassay of a male-specific aggregation pheromone from the harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica. J Chem Ecol 38:126–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (2009) Biostatistical analysis, 5th edn. Pearson Publishing, Upper Saddle River, NJ

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Matt Klein, Emily Hren, Evan Hoki, and Brennan Bathauer, who assisted with field trials, and to Fil Guzman and Shyam Shirali, who prepared pheromones and lures. Thanks to the BARC-West Farm Crew -- Ted Currier, George Meyers, John Booma, and Stuart McMaster -- for planting and maintaining the experimental fields.

Conflicts of Interests

Authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    Donald C. Weber, Guillermo Cabrera Walsh, Anthony S. DiMeglio, Michael M. Athanas & Ashot Khrimian

  2. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas, Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Guillermo Cabrera Walsh

  3. USDA ARS Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA

    Tracy C. Leskey

Authors
  1. Donald C. Weber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Guillermo Cabrera Walsh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anthony S. DiMeglio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael M. Athanas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tracy C. Leskey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ashot Khrimian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Donald C. Weber.

Additional information

Mention of commercial products is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Electronic supplementary material

Supplementary Information: Figures S1 (photographs of traps and trap plants), S2 (diagrams of 2-way and 7-way field choice arenas), and text describing lure preparation and loading.

ESM 1

(DOCX 248 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Weber, D.C., Cabrera Walsh, G., DiMeglio, A.S. et al. Attractiveness of Harlequin Bug, Murgantia histrionica, Aggregation Pheromone: Field Response to Isomers, Ratios, and Dose. J Chem Ecol 40, 1251–1259 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-014-0519-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-014-0519-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation