Electroantennogram responses of Dendrolimus superans (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) to six volatiles of Larix gmelinii

Abstract

Dendrolimus superans is one of the important pests feeding on the needles of Larix gmelinii. Six standard compounds, (1R)-(−)-α-pinene, (1S)-(−)-α-pinene, ocimene, (1S)-(−)-β-pinene, R(−)-α-phellandrene and camphene, the main volatiles of L. gmelinii were used to test the electroantennogram (EAG) responses of moths. The results show that the order of the EAG responses of moths to seven concentrations of these six compounds were as follows: mated females > virgin females > unmated males, except for 0.1 μL/μL R(−)-α-phellandrene, where the order was: virgin females > mated females > unmated males. There are statistically significant differences between the EAG responses of virgin females and unmated males (p < 0.05), and also between mated females with virgin females and mated females and unmated males (p < 0.01), which suggests that the mated females are more sensitive to the volatiles of host plant. The results of EAG responses of the mated females, virgin females and unmated males indicate that they are more sensitive to R(−)-α-phellandrene than to the other volatile components. The active time for the EAG responses of both mated females and unmated males occurs during the night, i.e., from 20:00 to 04:00 hours. This is consistent with their eclosion, mating and oviposition periods.