Responses of Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to traps baited with pheromones and food volatiles

Abstract

Abstract. The behavioural responses of two species of stored-product beetles, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val, to certain stimuli were studied in laboratory choice tests. The results of these experiments indicated that, with one species present, S. oryzae and T. confusum adults were equally attracted to traps baited with the aggregation pheromone of that species and to traps baited with both pheromones. In contrast, when both species were present, neither S. oryzae nor T. confusum showed specific behavioural trend towards a stimulus. Traps baited with 1 g of a mixture of plant extracts were significantly more attractive for both species than unbaited traps, but this response was highly influenced by the number of individuals of each species released. Traps baited with filter papers that were previously contaminated by live adults of both species were particularly attractive for S. oryzae, but not for T. confusum. Traps that contained 10 seeds damaged by S. oryzae were significantly more attractive than traps containing an oil lure or control traps for S. oryzae, but not for T. confusum. The addition of oil to the seeds did not affect the attractiveness of the trap for S. oryzae. Traps that contained 20 live S. oryzae adults were significantly more attractive than traps containing 20 dead S. oryzae adults or control traps. No significant differences were noted between traps containing 20 dead S. oryzae adults and control traps. The presence of S. oryzae adults in traps did not affect the response of T. confusum.

Responses of Tribolium castaneum to olfactory cues from cotton seeds, the fungi associated with cotton seeds, and cereals

“…However, the efficacy of available lures for Tribolium species is uncertain in some conditions and the results may be misleading in terms of what the beetles are doing or of how dense the populations are (Trematerra et al, 2007b). The efficacy of insect traps can be enhanced substantially when a mixture of food baits and pheromones are used in traps (Athanassiou et al, 2006a). Calls have therefore been made to identify more effective lures derived from food products for enhancing insect trap catch efficiency (Cox & Collins, 2002;Collins et al, 2007).…”

“…The same is true of pest insects that invade stored grain. The adults locate the resource by responding to specific chemical cues (Chambers, 1990;Athanassiou et al, 2006a;Edde & Phillips, 2006;Nguyen et al, 2008). For example, adults of Sitophilus granarius L. respond positively to plant-produced aliphatic alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones in a pitfall olfactometer (Germinara et al, 2008).…”

Kernel-kernel interactions and behavioral responses of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

“…Furthermore, it shows resistance to insecticides (Perez-Mendoza, 1999;Fragoso et al, 2003). In studies conducted in our laboratories recently we have made significant progress in clarifying some aspects of the behavior of S. oryzae and T. confusum (Athanassiou et al, 2006). In the present work, we examined the behavioral responses of adult maize weevil to semiochemicals from several kernel categories of maize, including the interactions between kernels of different status.…”

Trapping of internal and external feeding stored grain beetle pests with two types of pitfall traps: a two-year field study

“…Trematerra et al (2000) noted that kernels that were damaged by primary pests, especially by S. oryzae, were generally preferred by the externally feeding pests o. surinamensis, t. castaneum, and t. confusum over artificially damaged or whole kernels. Additionally, Athanassiou et al (2006) found that seeds that were damaged by S. oryzae increased the response of other S. oryzae individuals.…”