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Electrophysiological Responses of the Beech Leaf-Mining Weevil, Orchestes fagi, to Seasonally-Variant Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by American Beech, Fagus grandifolia

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Abstract

The beech leaf-mining weevil, Orchestes fagi, is a common pest of European beech, Fagus sylvatica, and has recently become established in Nova Scotia, Canada where it similarly infests American beech, F. grandifolia. We collected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by F. grandifolia leaves at five developmental stages over one growing season and simultaneously analyzed them for volatile emissions and O. fagi antennal response using gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). Volatile profiles changed significantly throughout the growing season, shifting from primarily β-caryophyllene, methyl jasmonate, and simple monoterpene emissions to dominance of the bicyclic monoterpene sabinene during maturity. Two VOCs dominant during bud burst, (R)-(+)-limonene and geranyl-p-cymene, may be of biological relevance due to the highly specific oviposition period of O. fagi at this stage though antennal responses were inconclusive. Senescence showed a decrease in blend complexity with an increase in (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate and (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol as well as a resurgence of α-terpinene and geranyl-p-cymene. We present a novel electroantennal preparation for O. fagi. Antennae of both male and female O. fagi responded to the majority of detectable peaks for host volatiles presented via GC-EAD. Females displayed greater overall sensitivities and less specificity to host volatiles and it is hypothesized that this translates to more generalist olfaction than males. It is clear that olfactory cues are important physiologically though their implications on behaviour are still unknown. The results presented in this study provide a baseline and tools on which to connect the complex and highly time-specific phenology of both F. grandifolia and the destructive pest O. fagi through which olfactory-based lures can be investigated for monitoring systems.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Drs. Peter Silk and Peter Mayo for providing chemical inventory and to Natural Resources Canada, SERG-International, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency – Atlantic Innovation Fund, and Acadia University for funding. All experiments reported here comply with the laws of Canada.

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Funding for this research was provided by grants and contracts from Natural Resources Canada, SERG-International grant, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Atlantic Innovation Fund (197853), and Acadia University.

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  1. Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada

    Simon P. Pawlowski & N. Kirk Hillier

  2. Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service–Atlantic Forestry Centre, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

    Jon D. Sweeney

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All authors participated in designing research. SP conducted experiments, analyzed results, and wrote manuscript. NKH and JS edited manuscript. All authors read and approved manuscript.

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Pawlowski, S.P., Sweeney, J.D. & Hillier, N.K. Electrophysiological Responses of the Beech Leaf-Mining Weevil, Orchestes fagi, to Seasonally-Variant Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by American Beech, Fagus grandifolia. J Chem Ecol 46, 935–946 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-020-01216-z

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