Abstract
The Annonaceae fruits weevil (Optatus palmaris) causes high losses to the soursop production in Mexico. Damage occurs when larvae and adults feed on the fruits; however, there is limited research about control strategies against this pest. However, pheromones provide a high potential management scheme for this curculio. Thus, this research characterized the behavior and volatile production of O. palmaris in response to their feeding habits. Olfactometry assays established preference by weevils to volatiles produced by feeding males and soursop. The behavior observed suggests the presence of an aggregation pheromone and a kairomone. Subsequently, insect volatiles sampled by solid-phase microextraction and dynamic headspace detected a unique compound on feeding males increased especially when feeding. Feeding-starvation experiments showed an averaged fifteen-fold increase in the concentration of a monoterpenoid on males feeding on soursop, and a decrease of the release of this compound males stop feeding. GC-MS analysis of volatiles identified this compound as α-terpineol. Further olfactometry assays using α-terpineol and soursop, demonstrated that this combination is double attractive to Annonaceae weevils than only soursop volatiles. The results showed a complementation effect between α-terpineol and soursop volatiles. Thus, α-terpineol is the aggregation pheromone of O. palmaris, and its concentration is enhanced by host-plant volatiles.
Highlights
Most of the members of the Curculionidae family, except for Platypodinae and Scolytinae, are called weevils
Depending on the behavioral outcome, they can be categorized as sexual, aggregation, alarm, attack, or epideictic pheromones, among others [24]
Our research showed weevils use soursop volatiles to find food based on the attraction to soursop aroma; this behavior resembles behavior caused by kairomone odor [27]
Summary
Most of the members of the Curculionidae family, except for Platypodinae and Scolytinae, are called weevils This term comes from their characteristic long snouts and capitate antennae with small clubs [1]. The antennae are stored in grooved cavities along the snout As mentioned, these insects possess a long rostrum (snout) with mouthparts at the end of it. Because of the damage caused to diverse plant species, several weevils are considered economically important agronomic pests [1,3,4,5]. In addition to damage from their feeding behavior, female weevils could oviposit in holes left after feasting on the fruits; new-offspring will feed on the fruit mesocarp and seeds, causing their detachment [6]
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