Journal of Chemical Ecology (1995) 21, 439-453

Ian A. Southwell, Craig D.A. Maddox and Myron P. Zalucki (1995)
Metabolism of 1,8-cineole in tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia and M. linariifolia) by pyrgo beetle (Paropsisterna tigrina)
Journal of Chemical Ecology 21 (4), 439-453
Abstract: The frass of the pyrgo beetle (Paropsisterna tigrina) feeding on commercial plantations of the terpinen-4-ol chemical variety of the Australian tea tree.Melaleuca alternifolia, was found to contain a volatile oil almost identical to the essential oil of the ingested leaf. When beetles were fed leaf containing substantial quantities of 1,8-cineole, the predominant frass metabolite as determined by MS, IR,¹³C and¹H NMR, GC, and CoGC was (+)-2 ß-hydroxycineole. Both male and female adults and larvae metabolized Melaleuca oils in similar ways.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Myron P. Zalucki

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment - cropping system/rotation
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Paropsisterna tigrina	Melaleuca (crop)
Paropsisterna tigrina (weed bioagent)