Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Chemistry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #349340
Research Project: Insect, Nematode, and Plant Semiochemical Communication Systems

Location: Chemistry Research

Title: Investigating host plant-based semiochemicals for attracting the leaffooted bug (Hemiptera: Coreidae), an insect pest of California agriculture

Author
item Beck, John
item Gee, Wai
item Cheng, Luisa
item HIGBEE, BRADLEY - Trece, Inc
item WILSON, HOUSTON - University Of California
item DAANE, KENT - University Of California

Submitted to: ACS Symposium Series
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/6/2018
Publication Date: 8/28/2018
Citation: Beck, J.J., Gee, W.S., Cheng, L.W., Higbee, B.S., Wilson, H., Daane, K.M. 2018. Investigating host plant-based semiochemicals for attracting the leaffooted bug (Hemiptera: Coreidae), an insect pest of California agriculture. ACS Symposium Series. 1294:143-165. https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2018-1294.ch011.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2018-1294.ch011

Interpretive Summary: Leptoglossus species, commonly referred to as leaffooted bugs (LFB), inflict serious damage to a wide variety of hosts. Over the last few years, California agricultural has experienced a marked increase in LFB populations and LFB-related issues in pomegranate, pistachio, and almond orchards. Leptoglossus clypealis, L. occidentalis, and L. zonatus are considered native to California, though L. clypealis and L. zonatus have been reported to be more prevalent in these orchards. Literature regarding Leptoglossus indicates that LFB are capable of vectoring some pathogenic microbes, thus raising questions about related food safety issues. Though pheromones are known for LFB, there is currently no sustainable tool available to growers for control or monitoring of LFB. Ongoing research in our labs has evaluated several California-based host plants of the polyphagous LFB. Using data from the collected headspace volatiles of several surveyed LFB hosts, as well as electrophysiological and field trapping bioassays, our labs seek to formulate and develop a blend of host plant-based volatiles for use as an effective control or monitoring of LFB in pomegranate and tree nut orchards. This chapter provides an overview of the status of semiochemicals used for control of California LFB species.

Technical Abstract: Leptoglossus species, commonly referred to as leaffooted bugs (LFB), inflict serious damage to a wide variety of hosts. Over the last few years, California agricultural has experienced a marked increase in LFB populations and LFB-related issues in pomegranate, pistachio, and almond orchards. Leptoglossus clypealis, L. occidentalis, and L. zonatus are considered native to California, though L. clypealis and L. zonatus have been reported to be more prevalent in the orchards mentioned. Literature regarding Leptoglossus indicates that LFB are capable of vectoring some pathogenic microbes. Though pheromones are known for LFB, there is currently no sustainable tool available to growers for control or monitoring of LFB. Ongoing research in our labs has evaluated several California-based host plants of the polyphagous LFB. Using data from the collected headspace volatiles of several LFB hosts, as well as electrophysiological and field trapping bioassays, our labs seek to formulate and develop a blend of host plant-based volatiles for use as an effective control or monitoring of LFB in pomegranate and tree nut orchards. This report provides an overview of the status of semiochemicals used for control of California LFB species.