Attraction of female Japanese horntail Urocerus japonicus (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) to α-pinene

Abstract

The attraction of Urocerus japonicus to volatile chemicals, which discolors the wood of conifers, was examined in the field. Attracting effects of α-pinene and ethanol that were suggested to be effective as attractants were compared to U. japonicus with Hodoron®, which has been used as an attractant for woodwasps. Adults of U. japonicus were captured in chemically treated adhesive traps, which were set up in a hinoki Cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa plantation. More female adults of U. japonicus were captured in traps with α-pinene or Hodoron® than in those without chemicals. There was no significant difference between the number of captured females in traps with α-pinene and those with Hodoron®. There were also no significant differences in the number of captured males among treatments. Traps with ethanol did not attract either sex of U. japonicus. It was indicated that both α-pinene and Hodoron® have attracting effects on female U. japonicus.