Identification of pheromone components of Plagionotus detri-tus

The longhorn beetle <i>Plagionotus detritus</i> (L.) occurs from Europe to the Middle East. Our principal aim was to identify the male-produced aggregation-sex attractant pheromone of this species. A pheromone-based monitoring system could support plant protection in areas where it might become a pest, and natural conservation in areas where it is endangered. Headspace volatiles were collected from live beetles and analyzed by coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Two components of the extracts that elicited responses from antennae of <i>P. detritus</i>, (<i>R</i>)-3-hydroxyhexan-2-one and (<i>S</i>)-2-hydroxyoctan-3-one<i> </i>were identified, synthesized, and field tested. The blend of the two components attracted both sexes of <i>P. detritus </i>in field bioassays, and a predatory clerid beetle, <i>Clerus mutillarius</i> F., was attracted by both compounds. Another longhorn beetle species, <i>Xylotrechus antilope</i> Schönh. was significantly attracted to traps baited with (<i>S</i>)-2-hydroxyoctan-3-one alone or the blend containing this compound. These results show that the pheromone components and blends play key roles in longhorn beetle life history and ecology, and the community of species with which they live.

长角天牛（longhorn beetle）*Plagionotus detritus*（L.）分布于欧洲至中东一带。本研究的首要目标为鉴定该物种雄性分泌的聚集-性信息素引诱剂。基于信息素的监测系统，既可在该物种可能成为害虫的区域支撑植物保护工作，也可在其濒临灭绝的区域助力自然保护事业。研究人员从活体甲虫中采集顶空挥发物，并通过气相色谱-触角电位联用检测（gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection, GC-EAD）与气相色谱-质谱联用（gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, GC-MS）技术完成分析。提取物中两种组分可引发*Plagionotus detritus*的触角电位反应，分别为(R)-3-羟基己-2-酮与(S)-2-羟基辛-3-酮；研究人员对上述两种组分进行了鉴定、合成，并开展了野外生物试验。野外生物测定结果显示，两种组分的混合物可同时吸引*Plagionotus detritus*的雌雄成虫；此外，该两种化合物还可吸引一种捕食性郭公甲（clerid beetle）*Clerus mutillarius* F.。另一种长角天牛物种——双脊虎天牛（Xylotrechus antilope）Schönh.，仅被单独施用(S)-2-羟基辛-3-酮或含有该组分的混合物的诱捕器显著吸引。上述研究结果表明，信息素组分及其混合物在长角天牛的生活史、生态学特征以及其所处的物种群落中均发挥关键作用。