Applied Entomology and Zoology (2013) 48, 171-179

Nupur Sarkar, Abhishek Mukherjee and Anandamay Barik (2013)
Long-chain alkanes: allelochemicals for host location by the insect pest, Epilachna dodecastigma (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Applied Entomology and Zoology 48 (2), 171-179
Abstract: Extraction, thin-layer chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of leaf surface waxes of Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) revealed that 20 n-alkanes between n-C15 and n-C36, except n-C34 and n-C35, commonly occur in young, mature, and senescent stages. Hentriacontane, hentriacontane, and hexatriacontane were the predominant compounds in young, mature, and senescent leaves, respectively. The cuticular alkanes from young, mature, and senescent leaves attracted the female insect, Epilachna dodecastigma (Wied.), at 25-400, 25-400, and 100-400 μg concentrations, respectively, whereas the mixtures of synthetic alkanes mimicking cuticular alkanes of young, mature, and senescent leaves showed attraction at 100-400, 100-400, and 200-400 μg concentrations, respectively, in Y-shaped glass tube olfactometer bioassay. The difference in insect attraction is probably due to the absence of branched-chain alkanes in the synthetic mixtures. Individual synthetic heptacosane, nonacosane, and hentriacontane at 28.19-56.90, 32.04-64.08, and 60.44-120.88 μg, respectively, elicited attraction of the insect. A synthetic blend of 4.82, 4.91, 5.71, 6.74, 56.39, 7.94, 62.42, 120.88, and 36.33 μg of nonadecane, eicosane, heneicosane, pentacosane, heptacosane, octacosane, nonacosane, hentriacontane, and tritriacontane, respectively, was most attractive to the insect.
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Database assignments for author(s): Abhishek Mukherjee

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pheromones/attractants/traps

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Henosepilachna pusillanima	Momordica (crop)	India