ARS | Publication request: Use of plant volatiles to reconcile biological and chemical controls

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 30, 2011
Publication Date: January 16, 2012
Citation: Steffan, S.A. 2012. Use of plant volatiles to reconcile biological and chemical controls [abstract]. Wisconsin Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Conference.

Technical Abstract: When loaded within slow-release lures, herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) allow researchers to monitor or manipulate the spatial distributions of natural enemy populations. In Washington apple orchards, HIPV blends were screened for their attractiveness to the resident insect taxa. In 2009, trap-catch was dominated by lacewings and parasitic Hymenoptera, though thousands of syrphids and predatory Hemiptera were also caught. Early work indicated that our most attractive lure blend consisted of geraniol, 2-phenylethanol, and methyl salicylate. To discern whether all components of this blend were attractive, we assayed the independent and interactive effects of this blend’s three components. Our findings indicated that sensitivity to certain combinations of these compounds was specific to each insect taxon, suggesting that HIPV-based trapping strategies can be tailored to a taxon of interest. These data also provide useful assessments of the phenology of some of the most abundant natural enemies.