Screening known Cerambycidae pheromones for activity with the Peruvian fauna

Abstract

Abstract Semiochemicals are powerful tools for the surveillance and suppression of forest insects. Although the literature on the chemical ecology of and use of semiochemicals to manage the Cerambycidae is growing, little is known about the chemical ecology of Cerambycidae fauna in Peru. Trapping studies that screen known attractants in off‐shore mitigation programs can provide valuable baseline knowledge to inform management of species introduced outside their native range. Known Cerambycidae pheromones were screened for activity in a year‐long field study in Peru to look for activity in the local Cerambycidae fauna. The most frequently captured species were Megacyllene andesiana (Casey), Oreodera bituberculata Bates, Aegomorphus longitarsis (Bates) and Discopus eques Bates. The activity period of A. longitarsis, O. bituberculata and D. eques occurred in mid‐September 2020 and for M. andesiana occurred in early October 2020. Responses to anti‐2,3‐hexanediol, fuscumol and fuscumol acetate by M. andesiana, O. bituberculata and D. eques were observed. We observed antagonism of the responses of M. andesiana, O. bituberculata and D. eques when anti‐2,3‐hexanediol, fuscumol and fuscumol acetate were tested in blends.