Developing a push-pull semiochemical pest management strategy for control of “Ips grandicollis” (Coleoptera:Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in pine plantation

Abstract

“Ips grandicollis” (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is an invasive pine pest in Australia and is native to eastern USA. It transfers symbiotic fungi that block conducting tissues and reduce the commercial value of wood by causing blue staining. Conspecific aggregation pheromones and host volatiles induce attraction (pull), whereas semiochemicals from sympatric species and non-host plants may induce an anti-aggregation (push) response. By identifying and using these chemical messages, we aim to develop semiochemical-based pest-control techniques for forest protection.