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Attraction of the sugarcane billbug, Sphenophorus levis, to vinasse and its volatile composition

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Abstract

The expansion of sugarcane plantations in Brazil and the discarding of vinasse into the sugarcane field have been speculated to contribute to the growing population of the billbug Sphenophorus levis. This beetle attacks the root system and forms galleries in rhizomes, causing damage or even the death of host plants. It has been suspected that vinasse, a residue from ethanol production, can release volatiles that are attractive to the insect; however, no study has addressed this hypothesis so far. The aim of this study was to investigate the attractiveness of vinasse to S. levis adults and identify the volatile compounds released by this substance using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). We found that vinasse was more attractive to S. levis than sugarcane stems, molasses and wastewater under laboratory conditions, but not than cane stems at field conditions. Our GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of primary alcohols, terpenes and organic carboxylic acids in vinasse. When a mixture of the commercial synthetic compounds identified in the chemical analysis was tested in the laboratory, a strong attraction of the insects to the mixture was observed. Our results help to explain how vinasse can contribute to the infestations of S. levis in sugarcane fields and shed new light on the development of strategies to control this pest using chemical attractants.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—CAPES—Brazil (Finance Code 001) for supporting the first author and the São Paulo Research Foundation—FAPESP (Grants 2017/11021-0 and 2017/50334-3) for financial support. We would also like to thank Abengoa Sugar and Alcohol Plant for their valuable support in the field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Institute, APTA, CP 70, Campinas, SP, 13001-970, Brazil

    Lizandra F. Martins, César J. Bueno & Luís Garrigós Leite

  2. University of São Paulo, ESALQ-USP, CP 09, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil

    Mateus Tonelli & José Mauricio S. Bento

Authors
  1. Lizandra F. Martins
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  2. Mateus Tonelli
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  3. José Mauricio S. Bento
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  4. César J. Bueno
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  5. Luís Garrigós Leite
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Contributions

LdFM, MT and LGL were responsible for setting up the bait traps and catching insects in the field. LdFM conducted all the bioassays carried out in the laboratory and in the field. MT and JMSB were involved with the chromatographic analysis. CJB and LGL helped with the field bioassays and statistical analyses. All authors helped with the writing and reviewing of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luís Garrigós Leite.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Communicated by Günther Raspotnig.

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Martins, L.F., Tonelli, M., Bento, J.M.S. et al. Attraction of the sugarcane billbug, Sphenophorus levis, to vinasse and its volatile composition. Chemoecology 30, 205–214 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-020-00310-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-020-00310-8

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