CHEMICAL ECOLOGY Response of Cranberry Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to Host Plant Volatiles

The oligophagous cranberry weevil, Anthonomus musculus Say, causes economic losses to blueberry growers in New Jersey because females deposit eggs into developing ßower buds and subsequent larval feeding damages buds, which fail to produce fruit. A cost-effective and reliable method is needed for monitoring this pest to correctly time insecticide applications. We studied the behavioral and antennal responses of adult A. musculus to its host plant volatiles to determine their potential for monitoring this pest. We evaluated A. musculus response to intact and damaged host plant parts, such as buds and ßowers in Y-tube bioassays. We also collected and identiÞed host plant volatiles from blueberry buds and open ßowers and performed electroantennograms with identiÞed compounds to determine the speciÞc chemicals eliciting antennal responses. Male weevils were more attracted to blueberry ßower buds and were repelled by conspeciÞc-damaged buds compared with clean air. In contrast, females were more attracted to open ßowers compared with ßower buds. Nineteen volatiles were identiÞed from blueberry buds; 10 of these were also emitted from blueberry ßowers. Four of the volatiles emitted from both blueberry buds and ßowers [hexanol, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, hexyl acetate, and (Z)-3-hexenyl butyrate] elicited strong antennal responses from A. musculus. Future laboratory and Þeld testing of the identiÞed compounds in combination with various trap designs is planned to develop a reliable monitoring trap for A. musculus.