Semiochemicals in the Natural History of Southern Pine Beetle Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann and Their Role in Pest Management

The southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann is generally considered to be one of the most significant biotic mortality agents of pines within North America, with a range stretching from New England to eastern Texas and from Arizona south to Nicaragua. As with other aggressive pine beetles, it relies on semiochemicals for coordinating the mass attacks necessary for colonization of healthy pines. Over the past 50 years its chemical ecology has received extensive study aimed at development of effective and practical semiochemical-based management strategies which might replace the destructive and costly techniques in practice. I review the literature on the chemical ecology of this insect with particular attention to the functional categorizations assigned to different semiochemicals and the data underlying these assignments. Additionally, I attempt to identify conflicts and knowledge gaps within current understanding of the chemical ecology of this insect that might represent a significant hindrance to progress in development of effective semiochemical-based management strategies.