Aggregation pheromones and host kairomones of West Indian sugarcane weevil, Metamasius hemipterus sericeus

Coupled gas chromatagraphic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) analyses and coupled CC-mass spectrometry (MS) of volatiles produced by male and female West Indian sugarcane weevils (WISW), Metamasius hemipterus sericeus (Oliv.), revealed eight male specific, EAD-active compounds: 3-pentanol (1), 2-methyl-4-heptanol (2), 2-methyl-4-octanol (3), 4-methyl-5-nonanol (4), and the corresponding ketones. In field experiments in Florida, alcohols 1-4 in combination with sugarcane were most attractive, whereas addition of the ketones or replacement of alcohols with ketones significantly reduced attraction. In Costa Rica field experiments testing alcohols 1-4 singly and in all binary, ternary, and quaternary combinations revealed 4 in combination with 2 was the major aggregation pheromone, equally attracting male and female WISW. Stereoisomeric 4 and (4S,5S)-4, the only isomer produced by WISW, were equally attractive. Addition of 4S-, 4R- or (+/-)-2 to (4S,5S)-4 significantly enhanced attraction. Sugarcane stalks in combination with 2 plus 4 (ratio of 1:8) were highly synergistic, whereas EAD-active sugarcane volatiles ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate, or ethyl butyrate only moderately increased attractiveness of the pheromone lure.