Attraction of Pissodes castaneus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) to Pinus taeda: laboratory and field evaluation

Coniferous trees of the genus Pinus (Pinaceae) are under continuous threats by numerous herbivorous insect species and pathogens attacking nearly all parts and tissues of the plants. To defend themselves, pine trees produce large amounts of oleoresin that is accumulated in a highly developed network of specialized resin ducts, which are distributed in the wood, bark, and needles. Such defense reactions in pines can be induced by the attack of herbivores. The banded pine weevil, Pissodes castaneus (De Geer, 1775) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), is an important pest of Pinus in Brazil, where it has been an invasive species since 2001. The female lays its eggs under the tree bark of trees and the larvae feed in the phloem of the trunk and branches, interrupting the sap circulation and eventually causing its death. In the present study, we conducted detailed GC–MS analyses of volatiles emitted by twigs of Pinus taeda L. We analyzed how the attack by P. castaneus males and females affects the volatile pattern emitted by the twigs. When comparing volatiles produced by healthy plants and by female- and male-attacked P. taeda, qualitative and quantitative differences were detected, as the decreased production of limonene, germacrene D and (E)-caryophyllene and the increase of α-pinene. Laboratory bioassays showed that plants attacked by male and female P. castaneus were more attractive to the insects. Understanding about what compounds may attract or repel the insects may help in the development of more effective traps, as well as preventing stress to avoid infestation.