Field Response of the Southern Pine Beetle to Behavioral Chemicals 1

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Abstract
Field tests were conducted in East Texas in 1973–77 to evaluate the influence of 7 behavioral chemicals on the flight and landing behavior of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman. A mixture of frontalin plus host tree volatiles attracted flying beetles within an infestation. Trans -verbenol synergized the activity of frontalin and substituted for host tree volatiles, α -pinene and loblolly turpentine. Verbenone in a 1:1 ratio with frontalin did not significantly affect trap catch. At higher concentrations of verbenone, trap catch was significantly reduced. Endo -brevicomin inhibited trap catch when added to an attractant-baited trap. Exo -brevicomin showed no inhibitory effect. Traps with a 1:4 mixture of Endo -brevicomin and verbenone plus an attractant caught significantly fewer beetles than traps with the attractant plus either one of the inhibitors.