Chemical communication in mate location and recognition in the white-spotted longicorn beetle, Anoplophora malasiaca (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Abstract

The mating sequence has been studied in the white-spotted longicorn beetle, Anoplophora malasiaca (Thomson) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Both females and males are attracted to wounded host plant Citrus unshiu, and adults of both sexes, and both female and male elytra contained the sesquiterpenes that were identical with those in C. unshiu. Moreover, at close range orientation by males, some visual cues derived from females acted synergistically with olfactory factors. And, female contact sex pheromone was isolated from female elytra and revealed to consist of eight hydrocarbons, four ketones, and three lactones. The mating sequence of A. malasiaca was roughly considered to occur as follows. Emerged adults from trunks of the host plants must search for their mates over large areas. Highly mobile males may be attracted from long distances by the signal of sesquiterpenes released from wounded host plants which indicate the presence of other individuals and serve for intraspecific communication in A. malasiaca. At close range orientation, the sesquiterpenes also act as attractant for both females and males, and then visual cue guided them to their mates or rivals. After a male orients to another individual, he identifies it as a mate or a rival. Once a male recognizes a female, mating occurs.

Crossing experiments and behavioral observations reveal reproductive incompatibility among three putative species of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci

“…Mate recognition in insects may involve visual, auditory, tactile, or chemical stimuli (Mullen et al , 2007; Schultz et al , 2008; Ryan & Sakaluk, 2009; Yasui, 2009). Specific mate recognition systems could enable species to recognize conspecific mates correctly (Hochkirch et al , 2007).…”

Comparison of fecundity and longevity of Anoplophora malasiaca (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) adults fed on three different host‐plants

“…First, we have used this species name for the Japanese populations in a series of studies (e.g. Yasui ; Muraji et al. ).…”

“…). However, in A. malasiaca , it appears that female adults do not produce pheromones to locate a mate (Yasui ).…”

Behavioral responses of Steirastoma breve (Sulzer) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) to host plant Theobroma cacao L., brushwood piles, under field conditions

“…Freshly cut cocoa branches, such as those we evaluated, are still alive, and provide a large artificial source of damaged tissues emitting odors that could be attractants (kairomones) for S. breve adults. For example, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, involved in the communication system of Anoplophora malasiaca at both long and short ranges, have been isolated from wounded host plants (Citrus unshiu) (Yasui et al, 2008;Yasui, 2009). Kairomones are often used by Cerambycidae as part of their communication system and have been used as bait to catch adult beetles regarded as agricultural pests, for example, Arhopalus tristis (Suckling et al, 2001), M. alternatus (Ikeda et al, 1980;Fan et al, 2007), Tetropium fuscum and T. castaneum (Sweeney et al, 2004(Sweeney et al, , 2006.…”