Response of cone and twig beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and a predator (Coleoptera: Cleridae) to pityol, conophthorin, and verbenone

Field studies were conducted in the United States and Canada to determine the response of the white pine cone beetle, Conophthorus coniperda (Schwarz), and the red pine cone beetle, Conophthorus resinosae Hopkins, to two potential inhibitors, conophthorin and verbenone, of pheromone communication. Trap catches of male C. coniperda and C., resinosae were significantly reduced and generally declined with increasing concentrations of conophthorin in traps baited with the pityol, a female-produced pheromone. Verbenone did not significantly reduce trap catches of C. coniperda. Conophthorin, but not verbenone, significantly reduced cone attacks by C. coniperda when placed near cone clusters. The twig beetles, Pityophthorus cariniceps LeConte and Pityophthorus puberulus (LeConte), responded to traps with pityol and alpha -pincne baits alone or with conophthorin. Thanasimus dubius (E) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) was attracted to the pityol and alpha -pinene, but conophthorin had no effect on attraction of this generalist bark beetle predator. Verbenone significantly reduced trap catches of T. dubius in pityol-baited traps.