RESPONSES TO SYNTHETIC AGGREGATION PHEROMONES, HOST-RELATED VOLATILES, AND THEIR COMBINATIONS BY CARPOPHILUS SPP (COLEOPTERA, NITIDULIDAE) IN LABORATORY AND FIELD-TESTS

The effect of different aggregation pheromones on attraction of Carpophilus hemipterus (L.), C. mutilatus Erichson, and C. humeralis (F.) was demonstrated in olfactometer and field trials in Israel. Aggregation pheromones act as synergists to attract Carpophilus spp. to host volatiles. Captures in traps baited with the pheromone-host volatiles combinations were higher than in traps baited with host volatiles alone. Carpophilus spp. aggregation pheromones are not entirely species-specific, and pheromones belonging to one species may also enhance attraction of other species. This cross-attraction is not surprising because congeners do have pheromone components in common. Thus, pheromones of C. lugubris Murray and C. freemani Dobson enhanced attraction of C. hemipterus to host volatiles, whereas C. humeralis attraction to host volatiles was enhanced by the pheromones of C. hemipterus and C. lugubris. C. mutilatus exhibited a high degree of activity to its own pheromone. Aggregation pheromones of Carpophilus spp. do not have any effect on Haptoncus luteolus (Erichson). The possibility of using host volatiles-pheromone combinations for monitoring and perhaps even for control of these pests (by mass-trapping or disruption of egg laying and mating) appears very promising.