| Title: | Characterisation of the Alarm Pheromone of Bathycoelia Distincta (Pentatomidae) |
| Author(s): | Pal E; Allison J; Guignard Q; Hurley BP; Slippers B; Fourie G; |
| Address: | "Department of Zoology and Entomology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, 1219 Queen Street E, P6A 2E5, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada. Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. gerda1.fourie@fabi.up.ac.za" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10886-022-01388-w |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Bathycoelia distincta (Pentatomidae) is the dominant pest in South African macadamia orchards, where adults are responsible for causing severe yield losses. Similar to other hemipterans, B. distincta release volatile compounds from scent glands that can deter natural enemies and act as an alarm signal among conspecifics. The overall aim of this study was to characterise the alarm pheromone of B. distincta. We: (i) analysed the scent gland contents of individual adult B. distincta by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), (ii) quantified volatiles released from live stink bugs after stress, and (iii) evaluated the electrophysiological and behavioural activity of alarm pheromone compounds with dose-response experiments. A blend of fourteen compounds was identified in the scent gland extracts of adult stink bugs. Of these, six compounds were detected in the effluvia of live stressed stink bugs [(E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-decenal, tridecane, dodecane, (E)-4-oxohex-2-enal and (E)-2-decenyl acetate]. No qualitative or quantitative differences were observed between sexes. Tridecane was the most abundant compound, comprising approximately 50% of total secretions. Only (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-decenal, and (E)-4-oxohex-2-enal elicited an antennal response in both sexes. Finally, exposure to a mixture of (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-decenal, and (E)-4-oxohex-2-enal resulted in an increase in the speed and distance travelled by walking bugs and a decrease in time spent resting compared to unexposed bugs. Our results show that the blend of (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-decenal, and (E)-4-oxohex-2-enal can induce an alarm response in B. distincta" |
| Keywords: | Animals Male Female *Pheromones/chemistry *Heteroptera/chemistry Antennal activity Behaviour Gc-ms Scent gland Stink bug; |
| Notes: | "MedlinePal, Elisa Allison, Jeremy Guignard, Quentin Hurley, Brett P Slippers, Bernard Fourie, Gerda eng n/a/University of Pretoria/ n/a/DST-NRF Centre Of Excellence In Tree Health Biotechnology/ n/a/Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute/ n/a/Macadamias South Africa NPC/ 2022/10/26 J Chem Ecol. 2022 Dec; 48(11-12):791-801. doi: 10.1007/s10886-022-01388-w. Epub 2022 Oct 26" |
