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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Pest Management and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #209863
Title: Floral scent of Canada thistle, and its potential as a generic insect attractant

Author
item EL-SAYED, A - CANTERBURY RES NEW ZEALAN
item Byers, John
item MANNING, L - CANTERBURY RES NEW ZEALAN
item JURGENS, A - CANTERBURY RES NEW ZEALAN
item MITCHELL, V - CANTERBURY RES NEW ZEALAN
item SUCKLING, D - CANTERBURY RES NEW ZEALAN

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2007
Publication Date: 6/1/2008
Citation: El-Sayed, A.M., Byers, J.A., Manning, L.M., Jurgens, A., Mitchell, V.J., Suckling, D.M. 2008. Floral scent of Canada thistle, and its potential as a generic insect attractant. Journal of Economic Entomology 101(3):720-727

Interpretive Summary: The flowers of Canada thistles, Cirsium arvense (L.)attract a wide range of insects including pollinators and herbivorous species. This attraction is primarily mediated by floral odor, which offers potential for developing generic insect attractants based on odor. In this study we have analyzed the chemical composition of the volatiles produced by Canada thistle flowers. Nineteen floral compounds were identified in the headspace including: phenylacetaldehyde (55%), methyl salicylate (14%), dimethyl salicylate (8%), pyranoid linalool oxide (4.5%), and benzaldehyde (3.5%). Other minor compounds include benzyl alcohol, methylbenzoate, linalool, phenylethyl alcohol, furanoid linalool oxide, p-anisaldehyde, 2,6-dimethyl-1,3,5,7-octatetraene, benzylacetate, benzyl tiglate, alpha-farnesene, benzyl benzoate, isopropyl myristate, and 2-phenylethyl ester benzoic acid. The relative attractiveness of various doses of the main floral volatile compound phenylacetaldehyde (i.e. 10, 100, 200, and 400 mg) was tested for insect attraction. Both the total catch and the biodiversity of insect species trapped increased as the loading of phenylacetaldehyde increased. Various blends of volatiles produced by flowers of many plant species including Canada thistle were formulated and tested in the field. An 11-component blend was the most attractive blend of several tested. These findings indicate that chemical components of flower odors of Canada thistle can serve as a generic insect attractant for monitoring of invasive pest species.

Technical Abstract: The flowers of Canada thistles, Cirsium arvense (L.)attract a wide range of insects including pollinators and herbivorous species. This attraction is primarily mediated by floral odor, which offers potential for developing generic insect attractants based on odor. In this study we have analyzed the chemical composition of the volatiles produced by Canada thistle flowers. Nineteen floral compounds were identified in the headspace including: phenylacetaldehyde (55%), methyl salicylate (14%), dimethyl salicylate (8%), pyranoid linalool oxide (4.5%), and benzaldehyde (3.5%). Other minor compounds include benzyl alcohol, methylbenzoate, linalool, phenylethyl alcohol, furanoid linalool oxide, p-anisaldehyde, 2,6-dimethyl-1,3,5,7-octatetraene, benzylacetate, benzyl tiglate, alpha-farnesene, benzyl benzoate, isopropyl myristate, and 2-phenylethyl ester benzoic acid. The relative attractiveness of various doses of the main floral volatile compound phenylacetaldehyde (i.e. 10, 100, 200, and 400 mg) was tested for insect attraction. Both the total catch and the biodiversity of insect species trapped increased as the loading of phenylacetaldehyde increased. Various blends of volatiles produced by flowers of many plant species including Canada thistle were formulated and tested in the field. An 11-component blend was the most attractive blend of several tested. These findings indicate that chemical components of flower odors of Canada thistle can serve as a generic insect attractant for monitoring of invasive pest species.