Bast Scale Research Articles

솔껍질깍지벌레에 대한 7종류 한약재 추출물의 살충활성

Abstract The black pine bast scale, Matsucoccus thunbergianae is one of the most serious insect pest inJapanese black pine, Pinus thunbergii forest in Korea. Insecticidal activity of 10 folds hot water extracts from7 herbal plants (Atractylodes lancea, Eugenia caryophyllata, Lonicera japonica, Melia azedarach, Quisqualisindica, Sophora flavescens and Taraxacum mongolicum) were tested against different stage of M.thunbergianae using spray method both in laboratory and field. Efficacies of herbal extracts were differentdepending on stage of M. thunbergianae. Q. indica sprayed with hand sprayer produced the highest correctedmortality of 95.7% on intermidiated nymph stage, however, A. lancea produced the highest correctedmortality (51.3%) on pupae of M. thunbergianae in laboratory. Q. indica and A. lancea were highly effectiveagainst female M. thunbergianae in laboratory, however, corrected mortality was lower than other stage(40.0%). Efficacy of Q. indica was similar to effective insecticide, fenitrothion 50% EC against M.thunbergianae in field trials. These results indicated that Q. indica could be an environmental friendly controlagent of M. thunbergianae. Key words Black pine bast scale, Environmental friendly control, Plant extracts, Quisqualis indica

Monitoring of Matsucoccus feytaudi (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae) and its natural enemies in Spain using sticky tapes and pheromone traps

The maritime pine bast scale, Matsucoccus feytaudi Ducasse (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae), occurs in the western part of the Mediterranean basin and is a sap sucking insect that feeds only on maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton). It causes damage in SE France and Italy, where it was accidentally introduced. In Spain information is scarce and, moreover, almost nothing is known about the predators of this species. This study was designed to determine the seasonal trends in abundance of M. feytaudi and its major predators, which might help to improve the biological control of this pest in other areas. Natural P. pinaster stands in the Valencian Community (Spain) were surveyed in 2004. In addition, the seasonal trends in abundance of M. feytaudi and its natural enemies were monitored in three stands over a period of three years (2002, 2005 and 2006). The monitoring was carried by wrapping sticky tapes around tree trunks and using delta traps baited with sexual pheromone. The maritime pine bast scale was detected in all the stands surveyed. At almost all the sites surveyed, three species of predators were captured: Elatophilus nigricornis Zetterstedt (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), Hemerobius stigma Stephens (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) and Malachiomimus pectinatus (Kiesenwetter) (Coleo- ptera: Malachiidae). The presence of M. pectinatus is noteworthy as this is the first record of this species as a possible predator of M. feytaudi. The results show that M. feytaudi, although differing in its phenology depending on the location, is univoltine in the study area. The prepupae, pupae and adults of M. feytaudi appeared between December and March in colder areas and between October and February in warmer areas. E. nigricornis nymphs are important predators of M. feytaudi, and were abundant when the scale insect (crawlers, prepupae, pupae, male and female adults) was present. The flight period of E. nigricornis and the hemerobiid H. stigma ranged from May to October. However, these flight patterns did not correlate with the presence of the different stages of the bast scale (crawlers, prepupae, pupae, male and female adults) on the surface of tree trunks. The presence of M. pectinatus in large numbers in some stands suggests it might be an important natural regulator, which helps to keep M. feytaudi populations at low den- sities in the areas of Spain studied. This malachiid shows a strong kairomonal attraction to the sexual pheromone of M. feytaudi and its flight activity is significantly correlated with the presence of crawlers of bast scale.

Effect of fenitrothion on different life stages of black pine bast scale, Matsucoccus thunbergianae

Black pine bast scale, Matsucoccus thunbergianae, is one of the most destructive pests of black pine trees throughout Korea. Toxicities of five commercially available insecticides for scale insects were compared in the laboratory with that of buprofezin 40SC, which is currently used to treat the disease in Korea. Fenitrothion 50EC and buprofezin 40SC significantly suppressed the adult emergence of intermediated male nymphs when exposed to the recommended-field concentrations (RFCs) of 500 and 4,000ppm, respectively. Fenitrothion 50EC was effective against male pupae even at one-fifth of the RFC, and showed no significant difference from buprofezin 40SC. Fenitrothion 50EC caused significantly higher mortality than buprofezin 40SC towards intermediate female nymphs and eggs, even at half RFC, and on female adults at one-tenth of its RFC. In a field test in a black pine arboretum, 50ppm of fenitrothion 50EC was equally effective to its RFC (500ppm) on the settled crawlers. Toxicities of fenitrothion 50EC and buprofezin 40SC to humans, other mammals, and non-target organisms are discussed. Fenitrothion 50EC can be used for urgent control of M. thunbergianae in limited outbreak areas at lower concentrations than its RFC.

Dispersal patterns of exotic forest pests in South Korea

Abstract Invasive species have potentially devastating effects on ecological communities and ecosystems. To understand the invasion process of exotic forest pests in South Korea, we reviewed four major species of exotic forest pests: the pine needle gall midge (Thecodiplosis japonensis), pine wilt disease caused by the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) and the black pine bast scale (Matsucoccus thunbergianae). We consider their biology, ecology, invasion history, dispersal patterns and related traits, and management as exotic species. Among these species, the dispersal process of fall webworm was linear, showing a constant range expansion as a function of time, whereas the other three species showed biphasic patterns, rapidly increasing dispersal speed after slow dispersal at the early invasion stage. Moreover, human activities accelerated their expansion, suggesting that prevention of the artificial movement of damaged trees would be useful to slow expansion of exotic species. We believe that this information would be useful to establish management strategies for invasion species.

우리나라에서 솔껍질깍지벌레의 분포확산

솔껍질깍지벌레는 우리나라 곰솔림의 주요한 해충의 하나이다. 본 연구는 우리나라에서 솔껍질깍지벌레의 분포를 알아보기 위하여 7개도 3개 광역시, 91개 시군구, 686 읍면동의 해송림에서 2010년 밀도를 조사하였다. 5개도 2개 광역시에서 솔껍질깍지벌레가 서식하고 있었는데 시군구별로는 조사대상의 64.8%인 59개 시군구에서 서식이 확인되었다. 솔껍질깍지벌레의 분포는 남해안 전역과 동해안의 포항, 서해안의 충남 보령지역까지 분포하였다. 충북과 대전광역시 및 제주도에서는 솔껍질깍지벌레의 분포가 확인되지 않았다. 부산지역은 16곳의 모든 구에서 솔껍질깍지벌레가 분포하였고, 시군 단위에서는 전남 해남군의 솔껍질깍지벌레 평균밀도가 1.713마리/0.785 <TEX>$cm^2$</TEX>로 가장 높았으며 읍면동 단위에서는 해남군 송지면이 6.36마리/0.785 <TEX>$cm^2$</TEX>로 가장 높았다. 곰솔 가지 내의 솔껍질깍지벌레 밀도와 솔껍질깍지벌레가 서식하고 있는 빈도와는 높은 상관관계가 있었다(상관계수=0.89). The black pine bast scale, <TEX>$Masucoccus$</TEX> <TEX>$thunbergianae$</TEX> (Hemiptera: Margarodidae), is a serious pest of the Japanese black pine, <TEX>$Pinus$</TEX> <TEX>$thunbergii$</TEX>, in Korea. The distribution of the black pine bast scale was examined, looking overall at 686 towns (eup), townships (myeon) or neighborhoods (dong). There were Japanese black pine (<TEX>$Pinus$</TEX> <TEX>$thunbergii$</TEX>) forests in 91 cities, counties (gun) and borough (gu), in seven provinces and three metropolitan cities during 2010. Black pine bast scale were found in 64.8% of cities or counties or borough (59) in 7 provinces and 3 metropolitan cities, and were distributed in all South Costal regions, Pohang in East Costal region and Boryeong in West Costal region. Chungcheongbukdo, Daejeon and Jeju did not have black pine bast scale. All the gu regions in Busan had black pine bast scale, of which the area with the highest prevalence was Haenam in Jeollanamdo (1.713 crawlers/0.785 <TEX>$cm^2$</TEX>). Songji-myeon had the highest occurrence rate (6.36 crawlers/0.785 <TEX>$cm^2$</TEX>) from the towns, township and dong. The density of black pine bast scale in twigs was highly correlated with percentage of the sample with scale (Correlation coefficacy=0.89).

ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis and Field Bioassay of the Israeli Pine Bast Scale, Matsucoccus josephi, Female Sex Pheromone.

Abstract We report the first synthesis of the two components of the female sex pheromone of Matsucoccus josephi (2E,4E,8E)-4,6-dimethyl-2,4,8-decatrien-7-one ( 1 ) and (2E,4Z,8E)-4,6-dimethyl-2,4,8-decatrien-7-one ( 2 ) utilizing the Reformatzky and Wittig reactions as key steps. A mixture of 1 and 2 and the separate isomers were bioassayed in a pine forest indicating that E isomer 1 is much more active than 2 and is also a kairomone for a predator.

Iberorhyzobius Raimundo &amp;amp; Canepari gen. nov., for Coccidula rondensis Eizaguirre (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

A new genus of Coccidulinae from the Iberian Peninsula, Iberorhyzobius Raimundo &amp; Canepari, is described for the species Coccidula rondensis Eizaguirre, 2004. Description and illustrations of the adult and larva are presented. Differences between Iberorhyzobius and other European Coccidulini are discussed. Adults and larvae of this species were collected in maritime pine stands, Pinus pinaster Aiton. Larvae were found preying upon ovisacs of the pine bast scale Matsucoccus feytaudi Ducasse. Both adults and larvae were lured by the sex pheromone of this prey. Our findings support the hypothesis that the new genus is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.

Characterization of eight new microsatellite loci in the invading maritime pine bast scale Matsucoccus feytaudi (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Margarodidae)

AbstractThe bast scale Matsucoccus feytaudi is a specific pest of maritime pine that is endemic in the Iberian Peninsula and southwestern France, and invasive in southeastern France, Italy and Corsica where it causes heavy damages. We developed eight microsatellite polymorphic markers using an enrichment protocol in order to study the invasion pathways and infer the genetic diversity of the populations. All loci could be successfully amplified with no evidence of null alleles. Cross‐species amplifications failed to amplify the congeneric Matsucoccus josephi.

Kairomonal Response of Predators to Three Pine Bast Scale Sex Pheromones

The kairomonal activity of the sex pheromones of three pine bast scales, Matsucoccus feytaudi, Matsucoccus josephi, and Matsucoccus matsumurae, as well as a new analog of the M. feytaudi sex pheromone, were investigated in pine forests of France, Portugal, and Italy. The response of the maritime pine bast scale predators, Elatophilus spp. and Hemerobius stigma, was used to test the influence of trapping methods, kairomone composition, and dose. Both predators showed significant attraction to all compounds except to the sex pheromone of M. josephi. Significant increase in captures was observed as a function of dose, and within the studied dose range, up to 2200 mug, no threshold saturation limits were observed for any of the attractive compounds. Trap design and size did not significantly influence predator captures, except for high population levels of Elatophilus crassicornis, when plate traps were more efficient than delta traps. Geographic variations were found in the kairomonal responses patterns of both predators, with the M. matsumurae sex pheromone being more attractive to the oriental populations from Corsica and Italy, whereas the western populations in Aquitaine and Portugal were more attracted to the M. feytaudi sex pheromone.

A common mode of attraction of larvae and adults of insect predators to the sex pheromone of their prey (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae)

The attraction of several adult predators, genera Elatophilus, Hemerobius and Sympherobius, to the sex pheromones of pine bast scales, Matsucoccus Cockerell, has already been demonstrated. Here, the hypothesis that the larvae of these predators are similarly attracted to the host prey sex pheromone is tested. The response of predators was tested in field trials using pine tree arenas baited with the sex pheromones of M. josephi Bodenheimer & Harpaz, M. feytaudi Ducasse and M. matsumurae Kuwana. Experiments were conducted in Israel in stands of Pinus halepensis infested by M. josephi and in Portugal in stands of P. pinaster infested by M. feytaudi, respectively. The selectivity of larvae for the three sex pheromones was tested in Petri dish arenas in the laboratory. In the field, the larval stages exhibited similar modes of attraction to those of the conspecific adults: Elatophilus hebraicus Pericart in Aleppo pine forest, E. crassicornis Reuter and Hemerobius stigma Stephens in the maritime pine forests. Laboratory choice tests confirmed the kairomonal selectivity of larvae. Both forest and laboratory tests demonstrated the response of a coccinellid of the genus Rhyzobius to the sex pheromones of M. feytaudi and M. matsumurae. A unique chemical communication system among several taxa of predators of Matsucoccus spp. was highlighted that may be attributed to their coevolution on a geological time scale.

Tree species diversity reduces the invasibility of maritime pine stands by the bast scale, Matsucoccus feytaudi (Homoptera: Margarodidae)

Species-rich plant communities may be more resistant to invasive herbivores because of reduced host-plant accessibility and increased natural enemy diversity and abundance. We tested these hypotheses in Corsica, a Mediterranean island recently invaded by the maritime pine bast scale, Matsucoccus feytaudi Duc., which causes widespread tree mortality in Pinus pinaster Ait. The endemic Matsucoccus pini Green infests Corsican pine, Pinus nigra laricio Poiret, where it is controlled by the native predatory bug Elatophilus nigricornis Zetterstedt. As revealed by kairomone trapping, E. nigricornis was most abundant in pure Corsican pine in areas not yet colonized by M. feytaudi, and in pure maritime pine its density decreased with the distance from the nearest Corsican pine forest. The abundance of M. feytaudi was compared in five pairs of pure maritime pine and mixed maritime and Corsican pine stands. It was consistently higher in pure than in mixed maritime pine stands, whereas E. nigricornis showed the opposite pattern, and relative differences were correlated with the proportion of Corsican pine in the mixture. The predation by E. nigricornis was manipulated in pure maritime pine stands using synthetic attractants of the predator. Matsucoccus feytaudi density was significantly reduced in maritime pines baited with kairomone dispensers.

Enhancement of sphaeropsis canker of aleppo pine by the Israeli pine bast scale

An interaction between the fungal pathogenSphaeropsis sapinea (Fr.) Dyko & Sutton, causal organism of Sphaeropsis canker, and the Israeli pine bast scaleMatsucoccus josephi (Homoptera: Margarodidae), causal agent of pine decline, was studied, since both were prevalent on Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) stands.Sphaeropsis sapinea was isolated from larvae (stage II) and molts of the Israeli pine bast scale collected in four Aleppo pine stands. When Aleppo pine saplings were infested with pine bast scale and subsequently inoculated withS. sapinea most plants died, whereas mortality of seedlings inoculated withS. sapinea alone without previous scale infestation was negligible. Scale infestation of saplings without subsequent fungal inoculation caused the death of one third of the plants. Wounding of pine shoot apices by removal of needle fascicles enhanced infection byS. sapinea. The results support the assumption thatM. josephi can play an important role in transmitting the fungal inoculum to the host tree as well as enabling its penetration to the shoots through wounds in the bark.

Effect of trap design, trap size and pheromone dose on male capture of two pine bast scales species (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae): implications for monitoring and mass‐trapping

Abstract 1 The effects of pheromone dose, trap size and trap design on the capture of male Matsucoccus feytaudi were studied in maritime pine forests of Portugal, France and Italy, and Matsucoccus josephi in Aleppo pine stands of Israel.2 Males of both species respond to racemic mixtures of the respective sex pheromone at a dosage as low as 25 µg. However, for low population densities of M. feytaudi, a 50 µg dosage was needed to guarantee male catches significantly different from the control trap.3 Male capture increased with increasing dosage up to a threshold level for both species. Overdose repellence was not observed even with baits containing 1600 and 2200 µg of the pheromone of M. josephi and M. feytaudi, respectively.4 For M. feytaudi, a higher dose–response was observed at medium population densities, whereas lesser captures were registered at low and high population densities, suggesting female competition in the latter case.5 Catches of M. feytaudi males were not affected by trap design, whereas M. josephi males were caught in significantly greater numbers in delta traps. Large traps caught significantly more males of both species.6 The relative higher male catches in the marginal zone of the sticky traps is probably related to males landing behaviour in the vicinity of the pheromone source.7 The shape and size of the trap did not affect the bias of the estimates of male catches. However, the plate traps provided higher precision. Both bias and precision improved with increasing dose.

Kairomonal attraction of predatory bugs (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) and brown lacewings (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) to sex pheromones of Matsucoccus species (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae)

Abstract The kairomonal response of potential predators of pine bast scales Matsucoccus Cockerell was investigated using traps baited with female sex pheromones of Matsucoccus josephi Bodenheimer and Harpaz, Matsucoccus feytaudi Ducasse, and Matsucoccus matsumurae Kuwana. In addition to the attraction of conspecific males and a weak cross attraction of congener ones, two guilds of predators were attracted: flower bugs of the genus Elatophilus Reuter and brown lacewings of the genera Hemerobius L. and Sympherobius Banks. Elatophilus hebraicus Pericart, Elatophilus nigricornis Zetterstedt, Elatophilus crassicornis Reuter, Hemerobius stigma Stephens, and Sympherobius fuscescens (Wallengern) were captured in the West Palearctic region, whereas Elatophilus inimica Drake & Harris, H. stigma, and Hemerobius stigmaterus Fitch were captured in the US. E. hebraicus alone was attracted to all three pheromones, while all other species responded to one or two of the them. The Matsucoccus pheromones are ketones, sharing a common chiral ketodiene moiety. The capture pattern of both predator guilds points to a general mode of kairomonal response with some specificity due to differences in the second side chain of these pheromones. Our findings suggest that further application of Matsucoccus pheromone traps may reveal additional predators which could be used as biological control agents of the noxious pine bast scale species.

Recent results in the synthesis of ecologically important bioregulators

Abstract Absolute configuration was established for the following semiochemicals: (S)-polyzonimine (1), (S)-9-methylgermacrene-B (2) and (1S,3S,7R)-3-methyl-a-himachalene (3). The stereoisomers of 2,6-dimethylheptane-1,7-diol monotetrahydropyranyl ether served as useful building blocks for the synthesis of syn- or anti-1,5-dimethylated aliphatic pheromones such as 4 and 5. Synthesis of analogs of the Israeli pine bast scale pheromone 6, which exhibits both pheromonal and kairomonal activities, enabled us to find a strong pheromone mimic 7 without any kairomonal activity.

Pheromonal and kairomonal activities can be separated: synthesis and bioactivity studies of pine bast scale sex pheromones and their analogues.

New syntheses were achieved to secure matsuone (1), the pheromone of the pine scale Matsucoccus matsumurae, that of M. feytaudi (2), and that of M. josephi (3). Five analogues (4-8) of 1, 2, and 3 were synthesized and their bioactivities studied. The pheromone analogue 7 showed relatively strong pheromonal activity toward M. josephi, while it was inactive as a kairomone toward the predator Elatophilus hebraicus. Similarly, analogue 8 acted as a pheromone for M. feytaudi, but it did not attract any of its local predators. The M. feytaudi pheromone 2 exhibited strong kairomonal activity toward E. hebraicus, but was not active as a pheromone mimic to attract M. josephi.

Specificity of pheromonal and kairomonal response of the israeli pine bast scale Matsucoccus josephi and its predator Elatophilus hebraicus

It has been demonstrated previously that the sex pheromone of the Israeli pine bast scale, Matsucoccus josephi, (2E,5R,6E,8E)-5,7-dimethyl2,6,8-decatrien-4-one (1) is also a potent kairomone of the scale insect's predator Elatophilus hebraicus. Surprisingly, the sex pheromones of M. feytaudi (2) and M. matsumurae (3) also attract E. hebraicus. These results have prompted us to prepare a series of analogs of 1 with variations in the two moieties attached to the C=O group (4–9) in order to probe the structure–activity relationship of the pheromonal/kairomonal response of M. josephi and E. hebraicus. The most selective and active pheromone analog is 8, attracting only M. josephi males and the most selective and active kairomone analog is the M. feytaudi pheromone 2, attracting only adults of E. hebraicus. A dose–response field test of these analogs and the chiral and racemic M. josephi pheromone 1 indicates that the specificity is maintained at a broad range between 25 and 400 μg corresponding to 1. Analog 5, which is neither a parapheromone nor a kairomone, and analog 8, which is only a parapheromone, are not inhibitory to M. josephi or to E. hebraicus. Our study indicates that alterations in the diene side chain of 1, common to all three Matsucoccus pheromones, strongly reduce the kairomonal activity while structural changes in the second side chain significantly reduce the pheromonal activity. The discovery of selective analogs of 1 has practical implications and enables specific monitoring of M. josephi or E. hebraicus. Particularly important is the possibility to mass-trap males of M. josephi without reducing the population of E. hebraicus.

Rangewide variation of the maritime pine bast scale matsucoccus feytaudi duc. (Homoptera: matsucoccidae) in relation to the genetic structure of its host

The bast scale Matsucoccus feytaudi is a specific pest of maritime pine, but the damage inflicted by the insect on the host trees is variable, ranging from no apparent effect to severe decline of the maritime pine stands. Rangewide variation of mitochondrial DNA among M. feytaudi populations was analysed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-RFLP-SSCP) analysis and the results compared with the genetic information already available for its host. Three main nonoverlapping lineages can be distinguished in M. feytaudi. The phylogeography of the pest population is clearly related to the history of its host. Most local associations could result from common evolution while others must be interpreted as intraspecific host shifts. Because the distribution of cultivated tree species is greatly influenced by humans, much may be learned concerning their genetic structure from the indirect study of their specific pests.

The Management Implications of the Mt. Carmel Research Project

In 1989 a wildfire destroyed 300 ha of natural pine forest and Mediterranean woodland on Mt. Carmel, Israel. Consequently an interdisciplinary scientific effort in fire ecology was initiated in order to propose recommendations to the management authorities, Field data gathered on soil erosion in the Mt. Carmel site implied that erosion is severe only during the first winter after fire, but it does not seem to present a significant threat to longterm ecosystem recovery. The recovery of the natural vegetation mitigates erosion, and there is no special need for any precautions to be taken immediatly following fire. Salvage cutting of burned trees had no effect on pine seedling recruitment, on vegetation development and on plant species diversity. Salvage cutting did affect passerine bird community by slowing down succession rate. For successful regeneration of the pine forest the burned site need not to be planted, since the number of natural pine seedlings is sufficiently great, and there is a need to conserve the genetic and spatial variability of the forest. Although thinning has a positive effect on short-term pine survival and growth, such action is not recommended since pine seedlings are susceptible to pine bast scale (Matsococcus josephi) up to seven years, and to severe damage by porcupines. Selection caused by this bast scale might improve the resistance of the new pine forest stand. Pine seedling growing in the:microsites of the old burned pine trees should be treated carefully, since some of them, due to their fast development, appear to be the next generation of the forest. Thinning of these groups can be considered after seven years, accompanied by removal of Cistus dwarf shrubs. However, where porcupine damage is observed, thinning should be done at low rates and with no pruning of side twigs. Since animal succession is a consequence of the change and progress in vegetation structure, there is no need for animal resettlement. The concept of 'fuel breaks', combining a single massive thinning of the woody vegetation and an annual short but heavy grazing, is a management option for decreasing fire danger and future fire damage.

Antennal response and field attraction of the predator Elatophilus hebraicus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) to sex pheromones and analogues of three Matsucoccus spp. (Homoptera: Matsucoccidae)

The predator Elatophilus hebraicus is closely associated with its prey, the pine bast scale, Matsucoccus josephi, and utilizes the M. josephi sex pheromone as a kairomone. Kairomonal activity of E. hebraicus was studied by GC-EAD and field bioassays. The sex pheromone of M. josephi [(2 E,5 R,6 E,8 E)-5,7-dimethyl-2,6,8-decatrien-4-one [( R)-E-M.j.] elicited a strong EAD response and attracted large numbers of the predator. The sex pheromone of two allopatric Matsucoccus spp., Matsucocccus feytaudi, (3 S,7 R,8 E,10 E)-3,7,9-trimethyl-8,10-dodecadien-6-one [( S, R)-E-M.f.] and Matcucossus matsumurae, (2 E,4 E,6 R,10 R)-4,6,10,12-tetramethyl-2,4-tridecadien-7-one [( R, R)-E-M.m.], were also EAD-active and attracted significant numbers of E. hebraicus in the forest. Increasing the lure load of ( S, R)-E-M.f. and ( R, R)-E-M.m., in order to compensate for their lower volatility relative to ( R)-E-M.j., resulted in similar attraction of E. hebraicus to each of the three pheromones. Other Matsucoccus pheromone stereoisomers displayed no behavioral activity. There was a significant difference in the activity of sex pheromone analogues, (6 E/ Z,8 E)-5,7-dimethyl-6,8-decadien-4-one (52% E + 48% Z, ANLG 1) and (6 E/ Z,8 E)-2,4,6-trimethyl-1,6,8-nonatrien-3-one (60% E + 40% Z, ANLG 2). The ( E) isomer of ANLG 1 evoked a strong EAD response from E. hebraicus and the mixture of E/ Z ANLG 1 attracted the predator in moderate numbers, whereas ANLG 2 was inactive both in EAD and field tests. Conversely, M. josephi males were not attracted to M. feytaudi and M. matsumurae pheromones or pheromone analogues. Cross-activity of E. hebraicus to M. feytaudi and M. matsumurae pheromones may be based on structural similarity of the compounds. Alternatively, E. hebraicus may respond specifically to the pheromones of two allopatric Matsucoccus spp. If true, kairomonal attraction of E. hebraicus to these pheromones may have evolved during speciation of the Matsucoccidae and may have been preserved despite the allopatry of M. josephi, M. feytaudi and M. matsumurae.