FIELD ATTRACTION OF SCOLYTUS-SCOLYTUS (F) TO THE ENANTIOMERS OF 4-METHYL-3-HEPTANOL, THE MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE AGGREGATION PHEROMONE

The attraction of Scolytus scolytus (F.) to the four enantiomers of 4-methyl-3-heptanol, the major component of the aggregation pheromone, was studied in the field. Only the (-)-threo isomer attracted significantly more beetles than the blank (control), and the response to this isomer was not significantly different from the response to commercial 4-methyl-3-heptanol, which contains all four isomers. There was no evidence for inhibition of attraction by the other three isomers. Commercial 4-methyl-3-heptanol could therefore be used, in combination with other components of the aggregation pheromone, for population sampling and control by mass trapping of S. scolytus. © 1979 Oxford University Press.