2026/07/10 by Sara Katherine O’Shields, Brian T Sullivan, Brian T. Sullivan +8
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · #Forest Insect Ecology and Management #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Plant and Fungal Interactions Research
paper · doi:10.1093/jee/toag224
openalex publication_date 2026/07/10 · openalex created_date 2026/07/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Southern pine beetle (SPB), Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is a serious native pest of pines (Pinus spp.) that ranges from the eastern USA to Nicaragua. Chemical signals, including pheromones and host tree odors, mediate mass attacks necessary for host tree colonization. Responses by SPB to the pine oleoresin volatile, 4-allylanisole, have been highly variable in past experiments, but factors governing this variation are unknown. In three experiments, we investigated how trapping methods and lure composition may influence 4-allylanisole's effects on the behavior of SPB and the clerid predator, Thanasimus dubius (F.) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) in Georgia, USA. Multiple, simultaneous alterations to trapping methods (including trap type, isomers of pheromone component brevicomin in lures, and positioning of release devices) caused significant changes in attraction enhancement by 4-allylanisole for SPB but not T. dubius. 4-Allylanisole increased attraction of SPB only when both components of the SPB aggregation pheromone, frontalin and endo-brevicomin, were present, whereas 4-allylanisole increased T. dubius catches with frontalin alone. The enhancement of SPB catches by 4-allylanisole's was greater when host odor alpha-pinene (a synergist), but not beta-pinene, was present. These three compounds were redundant in enhancing attraction of T. dubius. Our data suggest that multiple, interacting factors influence the attractive effects of 4-allylanisole for SPB. This semiochemical has the potential to substantially improve detection of cryptic populations of SPB, and thus it may enhance monitoring in the newly invaded, northeastern USA where the species may be difficult to detect.