Synomones of two sympatric species deter attack by the pine engraver, Ipspini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)
The capture of pine engravers, Ipspini (Say), in ipdienol-baited, multiple-funnel traps in British Columbia was significantly reduced when devices releasing ipsenol or verbenone were placed in the traps. These results suggest that ipsenol and verbenone are synomones released by Ipslatidens (LeC.) and the mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonusponderosae Hopk., respectively. When verbenone and ipsenol were released together from five stations 2 m apart on felled trees, at 50 and 1.5 mg per day per tree, respectively, there was a 66.7% reduction in the number of logs attacked and a 98.8% reduction in attack density. The same treatment caused a 74.1% reduction in attack density on standing trees surrounded by a 4 × 4 grid of 16 release devices at 5- m centres. The antiaggregant composition of verbenone plus ipsenol has considerable operational potential for use in precommercial thinnings and in areas where standing pines are of high value; e.g., in rural subdivisions, shelterbelts, and recreational forests.