Attractiveness of an Aggregation Pheromone Lure and Chicken Droppings to Adults and Larvae of Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Singh, N.; Johnson, D. T.

Chicken dropping volatiles (10 g CDV) extracted in methylene chloride were 3.6-fold less attractive than the fresh chicken droppings (2 g CD), whereas, the 2 g CD ϩ 20 g pheromone lure was three-fold more attractive than a combination of 10 g CDV ϩ 20 g pheromone lure. Pheromones are usually perceived at minute quantities and elicit strong behavioral and antennal responses. While multiple chemicals and correct blends can be critical for pheromone activity, kairomone activity in general is even more dependent on multiple compounds and correct ratios, and kairomones frequently require more material for activity (Witzgall et al. 2008 , Trona et al. 2010 . The concentration of CDV (kairomone) used was half that of the pheromone lure in the laboratory pitfall bioassays. Therefore, the low concentration of CDV might have accounted for the low attractiveness of CDV to adults and larvae as compared with fresh CD. The low concentration of CDV might not have released the correct natural ratios of different volatile components. Testing CDV at higher doses might have produced a more pronounced response. The fresh CD might have released the volatile proÞles in ratios more similar to those released in the poultry house, and also the larvae and adults perceived the CD volatiles as they do in their natural habitat.