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Monolithic dispensers for pheromones and their use in mating disruption of the ambrosia beetle M egaplatypus mutatus in poplar plantations
Author(s) -
Funes Hernán,
Zerba Eduardo,
GonzalezAudino Paola
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
agricultural and forest entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.755
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1461-9563
pISSN - 1461-9555
DOI - 10.1111/afe.12133
Subject(s) - ambrosia beetle , sex pheromone , pheromone , mating disruption , mating , biology , ambrosia , attraction , pheromone trap , botany , horticulture , ecology , curculionidae , pollen , linguistics , philosophy
Megaplatypus mutatus (formerly Platypus mutatus ) ( C hapuis) is an ambrosia beetle native to S outh A merica that attacks standing live trees, mining deeply into the xylem through large tunnels. This activity weakens the structural integrity of the tree, causing severe stem‐breakage and mortality. Attacks are initiated by pioneer males that select a host tree and build short nuptial galleries to which they attract females using a sex pheromone. Volatiles emitted are composed of (+)‐6‐methyl‐5‐hepten‐2‐ol [(+)‐sulcatol], 6‐methyl‐5‐hepten‐2‐one (sulcatone) and 3‐pentanol. Previously, we showed the potential of the strategy of pheromone‐mediated mating disruption of M. mutatus in commercial poplar and hazelnut plantations in S outh A merica and E urope using polyethylene reservoir dispensers for pheromones and found that damage reduction was greater than 56% in all cases. In the present study, the polymeric reservoir dispensers were replaced by matrix dispensers made by dispersion of the pheromone in natural waxes or polyethylene glycols that act as a matrix with the addition of a filler. After treatment, the number of mating galleries was significantly higher (70%) in control than in treated areas. Using natural materials for dispensers, we confirmed that mating disruption is a viable tool for the management of M. mutatus in poplar plantations.