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Behavioral Responses of Lesser Mealworm Beetles, Alphitobius diaperinus, (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to Pheromone Components Using a Wind Tunnel Dual Choice Walking Bioassay

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Abstract

The lesser mealworm beetle (LMW), Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), is a serious pest in poultry production facilities world-wide and is difficult to control by conventional means. Pheromone-based tools might become useful in the management of this species. Male LMW emit a five-component pheromone consisting of, (R)-(+)-limonene, (E)-β-ocimene, (S)-(+)-linalool, (R)-(+)-daucene, and 2-nonanone. Three of the five components ((E)-β-ocimene, (R)-(+)-daucene, and 2-nonanone) had shown behavioral activity, but it was not yet known if different blend combinations of the five components could modulate the beetle behavioral response. We developed a dual choice wind tunnel walking bioassay to test the attraction of male and female adult beetles to individual pheromone components and their blends. We tested hundreds of male and female adults at the same time to create a high throughput bioassay, which confirmed that only three compounds, (E)-β-ocimene, (R)-(+)-daucene, and 2-nonanone, are necessary to exhibit the pheromone behavioral activity of the naturally emitted blend. Randomly roaming males and females responded by forming lines while walking up to a source of attractive odor.

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Acknowledgments

We like to thank Kyle Schmitt, Kelly Buchek, and Savanna Dorsey for their technical assistance. We like to thank Debora Palmquist, USDA-ARS Midwest Area Office, for her help with the statistical analysis, and Miriam Cooperband, USDA-APHIS-CPHST, Otis Laboratory, Buzzard Bay, MA, for critically reading the manuscript and for her helpful suggestions. This investigation has been supported in part by funds made available through a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with the BASF Corporation. The mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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  1. USDA/ARS/National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL, 61604, USA

    Allard A. Cossé & Bruce W. Zilkowski

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  1. Allard A. Cossé
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  2. Bruce W. Zilkowski
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Correspondence to Allard A. Cossé.

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Cossé, A.A., Zilkowski, B.W. Behavioral Responses of Lesser Mealworm Beetles, Alphitobius diaperinus, (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to Pheromone Components Using a Wind Tunnel Dual Choice Walking Bioassay. J Insect Behav 28, 202–210 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-015-9493-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-015-9493-5

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