GEOMETRICAL AND OPTICAL ISOMERISM OF PHEROMONES IN 2 SYMPATRIC DRYOCOETES SPECIES (COLEOPTERA, SCOLYTIDAE), MEDIATES SPECIES-SPECIFICITY AND RESPONSE LEVEL

In a field-trapping experiment, westem balsam bark beetles, Dryocoetes confusus Swaine, were highly attracted to a 5:1 mixture of (+/-)-exo- and (+/-)-endo-brevicomin. Beetles in the sympatric species D. affaber (Mann.), were best attracted to a 1:1 blend of these semiochemicals [ either (+/-):(+/-) or (+):(+)], suggesting that both geometrical isome rs are pheromone components in these species. In laboratory bioassays and further field experiments, attraction of D. confusus was greatest when the (+) enantiomers of both geometrical isomers of brevicomin wer e presented in a 9: 1 ratio. Responses by male D. confusus to attracti ve mixtures were reduced in the presence of (-)-exo-brevicomin. Exploi tation of the complete range of variability in pheromone structure (bo th geometrical and optical isomerism) would allow for optimization and regulation of response levels within a species and also could maintai n reproductive isolation among sympatric congeneric species primarily through production and response to species-specific blends.