Do root-emitted volatile organic compounds attract wireworms?

in Communications in Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences (in press)

Wireworms are the soil dwelling larvae of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Their importance as crop pests increases since the efficient chemical means to control them cannot be considered anymore ... [more ▼]

Wireworms are the soil dwelling larvae of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Their importance as crop pests increases since the efficient chemical means to control them cannot be considered anymore. Therefore, many integrated pest management strategies have been investigated in the past few years. Most of them rely on the understanding of the ecology of the click beetles during their whole life cycle. We focus our work on the chemical ecology of wireworms, more precisely on the root-emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that might intervene in the food-searching process of the larvae by helping them to find a suitable host-plant or by acting as key factors in the belowground defence mechanism of the plant. Here, we present our first results of dual-choice orientation tests in olfactometric pipes. Wireworms (Agriotes sordidus Illiger) were submitted individually to a variety of olfactory baits ranging from entire barley roots (Hordeum vulgare L. var. Quench) to isolated VOCs identified as part of the emitting profile. The latter was described thanks to HS-SPME samplings and GC-MS analysis, for roots grown in the exact same conditions as for the olfactometric experimentations with entire roots. Most of the experimentations gave significant results. When confronted to volatiles emitted by entire roots, wireworms significantly orientated towards the bait (χ²-goodness-of-fit test, χ²=8, P-value=0.005). This result allowed us to follow up with the same device and to progressively vary the nature of the baits. Our protocol should be used for other plant-wireworm species combinations. Our results should be taken into account in varietal selection, in crop rotation, or in trapping systems aiming at the reduction of the populations of wireworms. [less ▲]

Volatile organic compounds released by barley roots attract wireworms

Poster (2012, February 10)

Wireworms are the soil dwelling larvae of click beetles and are pests of many crops worldwide. Alternatives to insecticide treatments are needed in order to develop integrated management strategies. Our ... [more ▼]

Wireworms are the soil dwelling larvae of click beetles and are pests of many crops worldwide. Alternatives to insecticide treatments are needed in order to develop integrated management strategies. Our work consists in elucidating the role of barley root-emitted volatile organic compounds on the orientation behaviour of Agriotes sordidus wireworms. Using a dual choice olfactometer we have evaluated the attractiveness of a variety of baits ranging from barley roots themselves to isolated root-emitted volatile organic compounds. Wireworms were significantly attracted towards most of the tested baits. Our results should be taken into account in varietal selection, in crop rotation, or in trapping systems aiming at the reduction of the populations of this pest. [less ▲]

Attraction of wireworms towards root-emitted volatile organic compounds of barley

Poster (2011, August)

Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are soil dwelling pests of many crops. Aldrin and lindane used to provide satisfactory treatment levels of infested lands. Their withdrawal from the market for ... [more ▼]

Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are soil dwelling pests of many crops. Aldrin and lindane used to provide satisfactory treatment levels of infested lands. Their withdrawal from the market for environmental issues gave birth to new needs in terms of management. In order to enhance integrated management of this pest, we work on the chemical ecology of Agriotes sordidus Illiger. We focus on its interaction with barley roots, mediated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Our experimentations are based on behavioural responses of wireworms in olfactometric devices and their statistical relevance [less ▲]