RESPONSES TO SYNTHETIC AGGREGATION PHEROMONES, HOST-RELATED VOLATILES, AND THEIR COMBINATIONS BY CARPOPHILUS SPP (COLEOPTERA, NITIDULIDAE) IN LABORATORY AND FIELD-TESTS

The effect of different aggregation pheromones on attraction of Carpop hilus hemipterus (L.), C. mutilatus Erichson, and C. humeralis (F.) wa s demonstrated in olfactometer and field trials in Israel. Aggregation pheromones act as synergists to attract Carpophilus spp. to host vola tiles. Captures in traps baited with the pheromone-host volatiles comb inations were higher than in traps baited with host volatiles alone. C arpophilus spp. aggregation pheromones are not entirely species-specif ic, and pheromones belonging to one species may also enhance attractio n of other species. This cross-attraction is not surprising because co ngeners do have pheromone components in common. Thus, pheromones of C. lugubris Murray and C. freemani Dobson enhanced attraction of C. hemi pterus to host volatiles, whereas C. humeralis attraction to host vola tiles was enhanced by the pheromones of C. hemipterus and C. lugubris. C. mutilatus exhibited a high degree of activity to its own pheromone . Aggregation pheromones of Carpophilus spp. do not have any effect on Haptoncus luteolus (Erichson). The possibility of using host volatile s-pheromone combinations for monitoring and perhaps even for control o f these pests (by mass-trapping or disruption of egg laying and mating ) appears very promising.