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Ovarian development of A grilus planipennis : effects of age and mating status and influence on attraction to host volatiles
Author(s) -
Ryall Krista L.,
Dutkiewicz David,
Silk Peter J.,
Antunes Pedro M.,
Ochoa Isabelle
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1111/eea.12112
Subject(s) - biology , attraction , green leaf volatiles , host (biology) , emerald ash borer , zoology , mating , pest analysis , sex pheromone , pheromone , botany , agrilus , horticulture , fraxinus , ecology , philosophy , linguistics , herbivore
Emerald ash borer, A grilus planipennis F airmaire ( C oleoptera: B uprestidae), is a major pest of ash trees, F raxinus spp. (Oleaceae), in N orth A merica. This study investigated the timing of reproductive development in female beetles and the influence of female reproductive maturity on attraction to host volatiles. Based on dissections of females of increasing age, females with access to males for mating, and thus presumed mated, developed mature eggs only after 18–24 days. In contrast, female beetles reared without access to males, and thus unmated, did not develop mature eggs at any age. Chemical analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons detected the contact sex pheromone, 9‐methyl‐pentacosane, in cohorts of females which were 8–9 days old and older, supporting previous research that this compound signals sexual maturity to males. Results from field‐trapping bioassays demonstrated that stage of female reproductive maturity influenced their attraction to host volatiles: females caught on traps baited with foliar volatiles contained eggs and ovarioles that were significantly less developed than those on traps baited with bark sesquiterpenes. However, our results revealed that females with immature stages of ovarioles and undeveloped eggs, such as those observed in unmated females, were rarely ever caught on traps baited with either of the host volatile lures. Further research on host compounds attractive to immature females is critical for early detection and possible control of A . planipennis populations during the extended pre‐oviposition period.