Electroantennographic Responses of Aromia bungii (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) to a Range of Volatile Compounds

Abstract

Background: The red-necked longhorn beetle, Aromia bungii, is one of the most damaging pests of stone fruit trees. Native to the south-eastern Palearctic and Oriental regions, it invaded and is established to some extent in the Campania Region (Southern Italy). In several cerambycid species, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been shown to play a role in mate and host plant location. Methods: The electroantennographic (EAG) technique was employed to explore the antennal chemoreceptivity of male and female A. bungii antennae to 90 VOCs. Results: Increasing EAG amplitudes from the basal to the distal antennal segments were recorded in response to six selected plant volatiles. From the distal flagellomeres, the largest EAG responses (>0.8 mV) were elicited by 2-hexanol, octanal, sulcatone, guaiacol, sulcatol, 2,4-dimethyl-3-hexanol, 2,4-dimethyl-2-hexanone, heptanal, nonanal, (Z)-3-hexenol, and 1-heptanol in both sexes, and by linalool, (E)-2-heptenal, 1-octen-3-ol, (E)-2-octenal, 3-octanol, (E)-2-octen-1-ol, α-phellandrene, and α-terpinene in males. The olfactory system of both sexes proved to be sensitive to changes in stimulus concentration and compound structure. Conclusions: this study demonstrates the capability of A. bungii males and females to detect and discriminate among a wide range of VOCs and provides a basis for further olfactometer and field trapping experiments aimed at identifying behaviorally-active compounds useful for the implementation of semiochemical-based control strategies for this pest.

Identification of the Red-Necked Longhorn Beetle Aromia bungii (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) with Real-Time PCR on Frass

“…Even the use of pheromone-based trapping devices that may support and orientate direct treeinspecting tasks in the invasion areas, thereby identifying new RLB outbreaks [43][44][45][46], retain some degree of uncertainty and do not solve misidentification due to cohabitation among native and invasive pests [11]. Once potentially infested trees are detected, the availability of non-invasive diagnostic tools to screen suspected RLB infestations may prevent unnecessary heavy plant injuries or plant destruction without the misuse of important economic resources in accordance with the other detection methods proposed for invasive wood-boring species [47,48].…”

Ozone disrupts the communication between plants and insects in urban and suburban areas: an updated insight on plant volatiles

“…To support the results in the field and to identify the attractant or repellent property of each BVOC, olfactory response tests are needed. One of the tests is electroantennography (EAG), which enables the detection of whether each compound is active on the insect’s antennae (Bruce et al 2005 ; Fernandez and Hilker 2007 ; Feng et al 2017 ; Germinara et al 2019 ; Iovinella et al 2020 ). EAG analysis is a remarkable and useful technique for olfactory experiments; however, it does not indicate whether the insect is attracted or repelled by a compound and does not show the function of BVOCs, including all volatile compounds from plants.…”

Biological and molecular characterization of Aromia bungii (Faldermann, 1835) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an emerging pest of stone fruits in Europe

“…Male (n = 60) 28.4 ± 0.42 (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36) 17.4 ± 0.28 (9-22.5) 10.5 ± 0.15 (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) [Longevity] Female (n = 60) 31.5 ± 0.46 19.9 ± 0.27 (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) 11.3 ± 0.17 (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15) [Longevity] Female (n = 10)…”

“…29.8 ± 0.49 (27)(28)(29)(30)(31) 20.5 ± 0.40 (18.5-22) 10.9 ± 0.35 (9)(10)(11)(12) [Dissected] Female (n = 18) 30.3 ± 0.54 (24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35) 18.7 ± 0.44 (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21) 10.4 ± 0.26 (9)(10)(11)(12)(13) [Fecundity] Table 1. Size of A. bungii adults in mm (mean ± SE) with the range of variation in round brackets.…”