Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2017
Evaluation of Host-Derived Volatiles for Trapping Culicoides Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)
Isberg, Elin; Bray, Daniel Peter; Hillbur, Ylva; Ignell, RickardAbstract
Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopognidae) cause pain and distress through blood feeding, and transmit viruses that threaten both animal and human health worldwide. There are few effective tools for monitoring and control of biting midges, with semiochemical-based strategies offering the advantage of targeting host-seeking populations. In previous studies, we identified the host preference of multiple Culicoides species, including Culicoides impunctatus, as well as cattle-derived compounds that modulate the behavioral responses of C. nubeculosus under laboratory conditions. Here, we test the efficacy of these compounds, when released at different rates, in attracting C. impunctatus under field conditions in Southern Sweden. Traps releasing 1-octen-3-ol, decanal, phenol, 4-methylphenol or 3-propylphenol, when combined with carbon dioxide (CO2), captured significantly higher numbers of C. impunctatus compared to control traps baited with CO2 alone, with low release rates (0.1 mg h(-1), 1 mg h(-1)) being generally more attractive. In contrast, traps releasing octanal or (E)-2-nonenal at 1 mg h(-1) and 10 mg h(-1) collected significantly lower numbers of C. impunctatus than control traps baited with CO2 only. Nonanal and 2-ethylhexanol did not affect the attraction of C. impunctatus when compared to CO2 alone at any of the release rates tested. The potential use of these semiochemicals as attractants and repellents for biting midge control is discussed.Keywords
Attractants; Biting midges; Vectors; Arbovirus; Carbon dioxide; Host-odours; Kairomones; RepellentsPublished in
Journal of Chemical Ecology2017, volume: 43, number: 7, pages: 662-669
Publisher: SPRINGER
Authors' information
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection Biology
Bray, Daniel
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection Biology
Bray, Daniel
University of Greenwich
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection Biology
International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection Biology
UKÄ Subject classification
Zoology
Ecology
Behavioral Sciences Biology
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-017-0860-x
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/87097