Laboratory and greenhouse evaluation of a synthetic host volatile attractant for Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)

1 The attractiveness of potato plants treated with a synthetic host volatile blend [(Z)-3-hexenyl acetate (+/–)-linalool, and methyl salicylate] to newly emerged and 5-day-old adult Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), was compared at four doses against untreated control plants and plants treated with an azadirachtin-based antifeedant in greenhouse cage arenas. 2 Attractant-treated plants (derived release rates of 0, 5.7, 17.1 or 57 µg/h) were significantly more attractive than untreated control plants to newly emerged and 5-day-old adults only at 57 µg/h. 3 Attractant-treated plants were significantly more attractive than antifeedant-treated plants to newly emerged and 5-day-old adults at the 5.7 µg/h treatment level and higher. Mean insect density on attractant-treated plants in the attractant/antifeedant study was significantly higher than in the attractant/control study. 4 Habituation to the synthetic attractant was evaluated by exposing adult beetles to the synthetic attractant for 0, 1, 2.5, 4, 8, 12 or 16 h, before release into a wind tunnel in which an attractant-baited plant model was placed at the upwind end. Insects exposed to the synthetic host attractant for ≤ 8 h moved to the synthetic attractant-baited plant model whereas insects exposed to the synthetic host attractant for 12 and 16 h did not. Furthermore, beetles exposed to the synthetic attractant for 0 and 1 h moved at rates greater than, or equal to, the median whereas beetles exposed for longer time periods moved at rates significantly less than the median. 5 These results demonstrate the potential for using the synthetic plant attractant and an antifeedant as components in a stimulo-deterrent strategy for management of the Colorado potato beetle as shown by us in another study.