Novel Tomicus yunnanensis (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) Attractants Utilizing Dynamic Release of Catalytically Oxidized α-Pinene
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study aims to develop a novel high-efficiency lure for Tomicus yunnanensis Existing bark beetle attractants often rely on single or fixed-ratio blends of host volatiles and their oxidation products, which struggle to mimic the dynamic release process of insect semiochemicals in nature. To address this, we established a dynamic reaction system based on the catalytic oxidation of α-pinene: ① background control (no catalyst, no heating), ② thermal oxidation system (no catalyst, 40 °C), and ③ catalytic oxidation system (with a titanium–copper modified chabazite-type zeolite catalyst, 40 °C). Behavioral screening using a Y-tube olfactometer revealed a clear gradient in attraction effectiveness among the three systems: catalytic oxidation > thermal oxidation > background control. The products from the catalytic oxidation system at 2 h of reaction showed the highest efficacy, achieving an attraction rate of 61%, which was significantly superior to the α-pinene control. These results indicate that generating dynamically proportioned volatile mixtures through catalytic oxidation can significantly enhance the attraction of T. yunnanensis Further analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) demonstrated that the catalyst efficiently promoted the directional conversion of α-pinene into key bioactive compounds such as verbenol, myrtenal, and myrtenone, thereby substantially improving behavioral activity. After field validation, this dynamically released attractant could potentially be developed into a real-time field-release lure system for monitoring adult emergence and large-scale trapping, providing a feasible new technological pathway for the precise and sustained management of bark beetle pests.
Source: Forests
DOI: 10.3390/f16121847
Authors: Meiying Wang, Dan Feng, Haoran Li, Peng Chen, Genying Zhao
Institutions: Southwest Forestry University, Yunnan Academy of Forestry
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W4417240807