Identification of Aggregation Pheromone inOdontothrips loti(Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

AbstractPheromone trapping is an interspecific, active at low concentrations, eco-friendly pest management strategy that has been widely used for population monitoring. Pheromones have only been validated for a few species in Thysanoptera and the pheromone components ofOdontothrips lotiHaliday are still unclear. In our study, we have identified (R)-lavandulyl (R)-2-methylbutanoate from maleO. lotiheadspace volatiles by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which was structurally similar to the known reported aggregation pheromone ofMegalurothrips sjostedti. Y-tube olfactometer assays showed that both male and female adultsO. lotiwere significantly attracted by synthetic (R)-lavandulyl (R)-2-methylbutyrate, implicating as an aggregation pheromone. Additionally, electroantennogram responses ofO. lotiincreased with increasing doses of synthetic (R)-lavandulyl (R)-2-methylbutyrate. This is the first report of a male-produced aggregation pheromone inO. loti, from genusOdontothrips. The discovery of aggregation pheromone ofO. lotias a primary pest of alfalfa will provide the possibility of monitoring and early warning in alfalfa grass fields and is expected to be used for integrated management forO. loti.