ARS | Publication request: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN PHEROMONAL AND HOST-PLANT RELATED CHEMICAL COMMUNICATION OF FLEA BEETLES PHYLLOTRETA CRUCIFERAE GOEZE AND PHYLLOTRETA VITTULA REDTENBACHER (COLEOPTERA, CHRYSOMELIDAE)

Submitted to: International Society of Chemical Ecology Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: July 11, 2006
Publication Date: July 7, 2006
Citation: Csonka, E., Bartelt, R.J., Cosse, A.A., Zilkowski, B.W., Ujvary, I., Toth, M. 2006. Similarities and differences in pheromonal and host-plant related chemical communication of flea beetles Phyllotreta cruciferae Goeze and Phyllotreta vittula Redtenbacher (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) [abstract]. International Society of Chemical Ecology Meeting. Poster No. S5-P28, p. 211.

Technical Abstract: Both Phyllotreta cruciferae Goeze and P. vittula Redtenbacher rank among the most important pest flea beetles in Europe. Remarkable similarities have been found in the pheromonal communication of the two species. Recently we reported that catches of both P. cruciferae and P. vittula increased in traps baited with allyl isothiocyanate when a mixture of male specific, pheromone candidate compounds (previously identified from P. cruciferae) were added. It appeared that for P. cruciferae, only compound A [(5R,5aS)-1,1,5,8-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,5a-heptahydrobenzo[1,2-a][7]annulene] was the one for which pheromonal activity could be clearly shown out. The addition of only compound A to allyl isothiocyanate was capable of increasing catches also in P. vittula, which suggests that Compound A may be the key pheromone component also in this species. In volatiles collected from male P. vittula, the presence of all male specific compounds found previously in collections from North American or European populations of P. cruciferae was verified. On the other hand, host-plant related chemical communication appeared to show significant differences between the two species. In preliminary screenings sizeable catches of P. vittula were recorded in traps baited with 3-butenyl isothiocyanate, or a mixture of 2-butenyl-, phenethyl-, 3-butenyl- and butyl isothiocyanates. Later studies revealed that P. vittula responded better to the above isothiocyanate mixture, than to allyl isothiocyanate, while P. cruciferae catches were always greater in allyl isothiocyanate baited traps. Of the four isothiocyanates in the mixture, 3-butenyl isothiocyanate may predominantly be responsible for attractancy of the mixture towards P. vittula. For practical applications, the use of a bait containing several isothiocyanates may be advantageous as it would efficently attract both important pest Phyllotreta spp. Acknowledgments: The present study was partially supported by grant OTKA T 043289 of Hugarian Academy of Science. The quaternary isothiocyanate mixture used in the first tests was a gift sample from Professor Enno Möttus (Tartu Univ., Estonia).