Identification of sex-specific compounds in the invasive four-eyed fir bark beetle Polygraphus proximus

Abstract Polygraphus proximus , a four-eyed fir bark beetle, is an invasive beetle species which has caused extensive damage to forests of Abies sibirica in southern and western Siberia the European part Russia. There high risk that pest insect will spread areas where it currently not considered present, such as Union. In these areas, threatens attack conifer various may result major environmental economic impact. The aim this study was identify pheromone components P. can be used baits. Males females were allowed bore into stem sections at laboratory, volatiles collected with solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Analyses extracts gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) revealed several sex-specific compounds. total, twelve male-specific compounds one female-specific compound identified. determined by GC peak area ( Z )‐2‐(3,3‐dimethylcyclohexylidene)‐ethanol [( )-DMCHE] minor 3-methyl-3-buten-1-ol, 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol, 3-methyl-2-butenal, benzyl alcohol, fragranol, 7-methyl-3-methylene-6-octen-1-ol, )- E )-2-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexylidene)-acetaldehyde, geraniol, geranial papayanol. only identified 1-hexanol. Two compounds, )‐DMCHE 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol shown attract males field studies. Thus, we now for first time present structures two are biologically active parts aggregation pheromone. However, some chemical communication overlap between subopacus needs further investigated also attracted .