Effects of leaf conditions and flight activity on the behaviour of Platypus quercivorus (Murayama) (Coleoptera: Platypodidae)

Abstract

The important role of semiochemicals in the interactions between plants and insects has been extensively investigated. The volatiles produced by oak trees are thought to attract the ambrosia beetle Platypus quercivorus (Murayama), which causes wilt disease in Quercus trees, resulting in widespread damage. In the present study, we hypothesized that (a) P. quercivorus is attracted to the leaf volatiles emitted by host trees and (b) the response of P. quercivorus to leaf volatiles is affected by flight. An experiment was performed to survey the preferences of both sexes of P. quercivorus for the leaf volatiles of Quercus crispula Blume at various stages of leaf deterioration, represented by different number of days after cutting. Additionally, the effect of flight on both sexes was evaluated by testing the beetle flight on a flight mill. The results showed that P. quercivorus was attracted to the volatiles emitted from fresh leaves and was not attracted to those emitted from dry leaves. This suggests that leaf volatiles from healthy hosts are primary attractants for P. quercivorus. Further, males exhibited increased olfactory responses to leaf volatiles as their flight duration increased, whereas the opposite pattern was observed in females. These results suggest that the different ecological roles of the sexes contribute to differences in olfactory responses.