Analysis and optimization of a synthetic milkweed floral attractant for mosquitoes.
A pentane extract of flowers of common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca (Asclepiadaceae), elicited significant orientation from both male and female Culex pipiens in a dual-port flight olfactometer. Analysis of the extract by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed six major constituents in order of relative abundance: benzaldehyde, (E)-β-ocimene, phenylacetaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, nonanal, and (E)-2-nonenal. Although not all were collected from the headspace profile of live flowers, a synthetic blend of these six compounds, when presented to mosquitoes in the same levels and proportions that occur in the extract, elicited a response comparable to the extract. Subtractive behavioral bioassays demonstrated that a three-component blend consisting of benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, and (E)-2-nonenal was as attractive as the full blend. These findings suggest the potential use of synthetic floral-odor blends for monitoring or control of both male and female disease-vectoring mosquitoes.
Department of Evolution, Ecology & Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. otienoburu.1@osu.edu
Philip E
PE
Otienoburu
Babak
B
Ebrahimi
P Larry
PL
Phelan
Woodbridge A
WA
Foster
D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D031108:Asclepias / Q000737:chemistry*; D003465:Culex / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005426:Flight, Animal; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010675:Pheromones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012903:Smell
D010675:Pheromones; D010936:Plant Extracts; C010411:insect attractants