Field responses of certain forest Coleoptera to conifer monoterpenes and ethanol

Abstract

Field experiments using baited sticky stovepipe traps and Lindgren multiple funnel traps were done near Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, to determine the effects of conifer monoterpenes (α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene, limonene, camphene and carene) and ethanol on the number of beetles captured. Several species of conifer-feeding beetles were attracted to the monoterpenes or to monoterpenes and ethanol, including species in the families Cerambycidae (Asemum striatum, Acmaeops proteus, Xylotrechus undulatus, Monochamus scutellatus), Curculionidae (Pissodes strobi, Hylobius pales), and Scolytidae (Dryocetes autographus, Ips grandicollis). Species of Buprestidae generally did not respond to the monoterpenes or to ethanol. Species of Cleridae (Thanasimus dubius, Enoclerus nigripes rufiventris, Enoclerus nigrifrons gerhardi) which are predators of conifer bark beetles were attracted to the monoterpenes. Synergism between monoterpenes and ethanol was evident forM. scutellatus, H. pales, andD. autographus. While α-pinene was the most potent attractant for most beetle species, monoterpenes other than α-pinene synergized attraction to ethanol forD. autographus. Attraction of beetles to commercial turpentine and ethanol did not differ significantly from attraction to a pure monoterpene blend and ethanol.