Methyl 2-(methylthio)benzoate: a sex attractant for the June beetles, Phyllophaga tristis and P. apicata.
Male antennae of Phyllophaga tristis (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) were tested using a coupled gas chromatograph-electroantennogram detector (GC-EAD) system for electrophysiological responses to five sex pheromones identified from other Phyllophaga species including L-valine methyl ester, L-isoleucine methyl ester, L-leucine methyl ester, methyl 2(methylthio)benzoate and methyl 2-amino benzoate. Male antennae responded only to methyl 2(methylthio)benzoate. In a 2003 field test near Greensburg, Kansas, cross-vane traps baited with rubber septa containing 1 mg of methyl 2-(methylthio)benzoate captured 466 male P. tristis. Control traps baited with rubber septa loaded with only hexane captured none. Similarly, in a field test in 2010 in Gainesville, Florida, 265 male P. apicata Reinhard were captured in traps baited with 1 mg of methyl 2-(methylthio)benzoate whereas control traps captured only a single male.
Department of Entomology, 630 West North St, Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, New York 14456, USA. psr1@cornell.edu
Paul S
PS
Robbins
Glenn A
GA
Salsbury
Robert E
RE
Woodruff
Stephen L
SL
Lapointe
Charles E
CE
Linn
D000818:Animals; D057506:Arthropod Antennae / Q000502:physiology*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000378:metabolism*; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000032:analysis*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000378:metabolism*
D001565:Benzoates; D012724:Sex Attractants; D013440:Sulfides; C571009:methyl 2-(methylthio)benzoate