Overview of development of an anti‐attractant based technology for spruce protection againstIps typographus: From past failures to future success

Abstract

We describe a series of experiments on the protection of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) logs and standing trees against Ips typographus L. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). The tested protective materials were applied 1) at point sources and 2) area-covering using zeolite-based dispensers. We performed 11 terrestrial and one aerial application (using a helicopter) between 1992 and 2001. We gradually replaced polyethylene-bag verbenone dispensers by composite dispensers releasing verbenone and non-host volatiles (NHV: green leaf volatiles, trans-conophthorin, and C8-alcohols). Many experiments did not give statistically significant results, due to the low number of true replicates and the spatial heterogeneity of beetle attacks. The protection of horizontal objects like logs or lying trees with anti-attractants was not always successful. In the future, positive results can be expected with an area covering spray applied by zeolite dispensers containing mixtures of verbenone and NHV. A similar approach could probably be used in aerial spraying of anti-attractants.We have succeeded in our attempt to protect zones of standing spruce trees from I. typographus attacks. We used dispensers with a combination of verbenone and a full blend of NHV compounds. The protection is not complete, but in both 2000 and 2001, the treatment significantly decreased the probability of the insect attack on trees by 60-80 %.

Formation oftrans-Verbenol and Verbenone from α-Pinene Catalysed by ImmobilisedPicea abiesCells

“…17) Verbenone has been reported as an anti-aggregation signal in Ips typographus 18) and is used to protect spruce plantations. 19) Thus, the products of our transformation experiments may find practical use in integrated pest management.…”

Southern Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, Antennal and Behavioral Responses to Nonhost Leaf and Bark Volatiles

“…Numerous individual nonhost volatiles have been identified and shown to inhibit coniferophagous bark beetle responses to traps baited with attractant pheromones and/or host kairomones (e.g., Dickens et al, 1992;Huber and Borden, 2003;summarized in Zhang and Schlyter, 2004;Zhang et al, 2007;Dodds and Miller, 2010;Fettig et al, 2012). Furthermore, nonhost volatiles have been used with some success to protect individual trees from bark beetle attacks Jakuš et al, 2003;Fettig et al, 2009;Schiebe et al, 2011;Schlyter, 2012).…”

Landscape-scale Ips typographus attack dynamics: from monitoring plots to GIS-based disturbance models

“…The knowledge gained during project Tatry on the anti-attractant and semiochemical diversity effects of NHV (Zhang & Schlyter 2003, 2004) is now being put into practice for forest protection (Jakuš et al 2003b, Jactel et al 2011, Schiebe et al 2011. The results from GIS and remote sensing application were used for decision making in NP Tatry (Schlyter 2001, Grodzki et al 2006 and NP Sumava (Turčáni et al 2008).…”

“…Beetles are more likely to attack trees adjacent to the already initialized spots (Jakuš et al 2003a). Sun-exposed slopes or sites are susceptible to I. typographus attack regardless of the gradation phase and stand conditions (Jakuš et al 2003b, Grodzki et al 2006, Akkuzu et al 2009). This indicates that questions of sun radiation and shading are important for understanding the mechanisms of I. typographus host selection.…”