Oxidation products of pinene in the bark beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis

Abstract

Southern pine beetles were collected as they emerged from infested pine bolts and exposed in Petri dishes to α- and β-pinene for 20 hr. Changes in the volatile contents of the beetles' hindguts were detected by gas chromatography, and previously unidentified components were characterized by mass, i.r., and n.m.r. spectroscopy. A prominent compound in hindguts of both sexes before and after treatment was identified as myrtenol, and a less conspicuous, male-specific compound proved to be myrtenal. Upon exposure to α-pinene, males produced cis- and trans-verbenol, and 4-methyl-2-pentanol was found in both sexes. Compounds present after treatment with β-pinene vapour were identified as trans-pinocarveol in both sexes, and pinocarvone in the males. © 1973.