Retired Senior Engineer of Forest Pest Control Forest Pest Control Athens, Ohio
Abstract [Objactive]To explore the chemical-ecological relationship among insects,a-pinene and woods.[Methods]The amount of a-pinene released from the new twigs of pine tree Pinus massonian in January,February,March and April was measured by gas chromatography,and the concentration of a-pinene in response to the EAG of pine long-horn beetle Monochamus alternatus was measured by electroantennogram. The liquid attractant bait with a-pinene and ethanol was placed in the center of the trap of "cross-board+funnel" type which was hung out in the forest to trap.Then the trapped insects were classified and identified.[Results]132 species of insects from 112 genera in 48 families in 11 orders were trapped and identified. Coleoptera was the most numerous, with 21 families,70 genera and 87species, accounting for 43.6%,62.6% and 65.8% of the families, genera and species, respectivly; Hemiptera was the second, with 9 families, 18 genera and 20 species, accounting for 18.7%, 16,1% and 15.1%; the third was Homoptera, with 5 families, 11 genera and 12 species, accounting for 10.4%, 9.8% and 9.0%; the other 8 orders contained few families, genera and species. [Conclusion] a-pinene is an odor molecule synthesized and emitted by forest trees,which can be recognized by many insects; a-pinene is like a bridge connecting trees and insects,and has an important chemical ecological role. Keywords: a-pinene; chemical ecology; forest; insects
