Behavioural Response of Aromia bungii Adults to Volatile Compounds Emitted by Prunus persica at Different Physiological Statuses

ABSTRACT Aromia bungii is a serious wood borer damaging Prunus persica and other numerous economic tree species. Host plant volatiles play a key role in pest population monitoring and trapping. To ascertain the influence of volatile organic compounds emitted by P . persica at varying physiological statuses on the host‐searching behaviour of A . bungii adults, we initially collected and identified the volatiles emitted by P . persica leaves infested with A . bungii using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Subsequently, we evaluated the behavioural response of A . bungii adults to the crude extracts, single compounds and blends of these compounds by Y‐tube olfactometer bioassay. Results showed that volatiles emitted from P . persica infested with A . bungii larvae at Grade I were more attractive to females, but males were more attracted to volatiles from P . persica infested with A . bungii larvae at Grade IV. Five compounds were identified and showed relatively high levels from both infested plants at Grade I and Grade IV. Among them, 3‐carene, cis ‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol and cis ‐3‐hexenyl acetate were attractive to females, and a blend of the three volatiles in a ratio of 3:91:6 for Grade I infestation was more attractive to females than a ratio of 3:83:14 from Grade IV infestation. The compounds, 3‐carene, cis ‐3‐hexenyl acetate, cis ‐3‐hexene‐1‐ol and benzaldehyde, were attractive to males and a blend in a ratio of 3:81:13:3 from Grade IV infestation was more attractive to males than a ratio of 3:89:6:2 from Grade I infestation. The results show that the kinds and ratios of volatiles emitted from P . persica infested with A . bungii larvae play important roles in host‐searching behaviour of A . bungii adults.