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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #83845
Title: REPELLENCY OF THE HOST-PRODUCED COMPOUND 4-ALLYLANISOLE AND ITS ANALOGS TO CONIFER-FEEDING BARK BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE)

Author
item HAYES, JANE
item INGRAM, LEONARD
item ROTON, LARY
item Petroski, Richard

Submitted to: International Society of Chemical Ecology Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The phenylpropanoid, 4-allylanisole, is a compound produced by many conifers, including loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), an abundant species in southern pine forests and a preferred host of southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann). Repellency of 4-allylanisole to D. frontalis was demonstrated in laboratory assays and in field tests using baited funnel traps. Response of D. frontalis to its attractant pheromone, frontalin, in traps was significantly reduced by simultaneous release of 4 allylanisole. No significant further reduction occurred when 4 allylanisole was used together with the beetle-produced inhibitory pheromone, verbenone. Response of a major predator, Thanasimus dubius (F.), to D. frontalis attractant did not differ with simultaneous release of 4-allylanisole. Efficacy of a tactic using 4-allylanisole to protect high-value trees from D. frontalis infestation was demonstrated. Other conifer-feeding scolytids tested (n=10) show repellent responses to 4 allylanisole, but not all (e.g., D. rufipennis (Kirby)) use hosts known to produce 4-allylanisole. The non-conifer feeding Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham) shows no response. Also response of D. frontalis to 33 chemical analogs of 4-allylanisole were tested in behavioral assays. Like 4-allylanisole, 4 isopropylanisole, p-anisaldehyde and 4-methoxyacetophenone contain anisole functional groups and rank high in repellency (>65%). Allylbenzene, ethylbenzene and 4-methylstyrene also are highly repellent (>70%), yet have no anisole group.