Abstract
Analyses of the headspace volatiles produced by males and females of Sternechus subsignatus Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) revealed seven male-specific compounds. The major component was (E)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-ethanol, and the minor components were 1-(2′-hydroxyethyl)-1-methyl-2-isopropenylcyclobutane (grandisol), 7-methyl-3-methyleneoct-6-en-1-ol, (Z)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-ethanol, (Z)- and (E)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-acetaldehyde, and (E)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene) acetic acid. The latter compound is described for the first time as a natural product. Only four of the seven identified compounds showed electrophysiological activity. Enantioselective gas chromatography showed that the natural grandisol is the (1R,2S)-stereoisomer. The major component, (E)-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-ethanol, attracted S. subsignatus in olfactometer bioassays. Studies are in progress to evaluate the biological activity of the major component and the EAD-active mixture under field conditions.
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The authors thank CNPq and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT) Semioquimicos na Agricultura for financial support. The authors also thank Embrapa Soja and Pontificia Universidade Catolica -PR who supplied the insects.
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Ambrogi, B.G., Cortés, A.M.P. & Zarbin, P.H.G. Identification of Male-Produced Aggregation Pheromone of the Curculionid Beetle Sternechus subsignatus . J Chem Ecol 38, 272–277 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-012-0080-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-012-0080-3