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J Chem Ecol

Title:		"Aggregation pheromone of coconut rhinoceros beetle,Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) (coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)"
Author(s):		Hallett RH; Perez AL; Gries G; Gries R; Pierce HD; Yue J; Oehlschlager AC; Gonzalez LM; Borden JH;
Address:		"Centre for Pest Management Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada"
Journal Title:		J Chem Ecol
Year:		1995
Volume:		21
Issue:		10
Page Number:		1549 - 1570
DOI:		10.1007/BF02035152
ISSN/ISBN:		0098-0331 (Print) 0098-0331 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Male coconut rhinoceros beetles,Oryctes rhinoceros (L.), produce three sex-specific compounds, ethyl 4-methyloctanoate, ethyl 4-methylheptanoate, and 4-methyloctanoic acid, the first of which is an aggregation pheromone. Synthesis of these compounds involving conjugate addition of organocuprates to ethyl acrylate is reported. In field trapping experiments, (4S)-ethyl 4-methyloctanoate and the racemic mixture were equally attractive and 10 times more effective in attracting beetles than ethyl chrysanthemumate, a previously recommended attractant. Ethyl 4-methylheptanoate was as attractive as ethyl chrysanthemumate and more attractive than 4-methyloctanoic acid, but further studies are required before it can be classed as an aggregation pheromone. Compared to ethyl 4-methyloctanoate alone, combinations of the three male-produced compounds did not increase attraction, whereas addition of freshly rotting oil palm fruit bunches to pheromone-baited traps significantly enhanced attraction. With increasing dose, captures ofO. rhinoceros increased, but doses of 6, 9, and 18 mg/day were competitive with 30 mg/day lures. Newly designed vane traps were more effective in capturing beetles than were barrier or pitfall traps. Results of this study indicate that there is potential for using ethyl 4-methyloctanoate in operational programs to controlO. rhinoceros in oil palm plantations"
Keywords:
Notes:		"PubMed-not-MEDLINEHallett, R H Perez, A L Gries, G Gries, R Pierce, H D Jr Yue, J Oehlschlager, A C Gonzalez, L M Borden, J H eng 1995/10/01 J Chem Ecol. 1995 Oct; 21(10):1549-70. doi: 10.1007/BF02035152"