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Published:
Mar 11, 2024Keywords:
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Chemotaxis and Ecology of Oviposition in Major Scarab Beetle Soil Pests of Crops – A review
Abstract
Anomala corpulenta, Holotrichia oblita, and Holotrichia parallela are scarab beetles and major soil-dwelling insect pests. Their larvae feed on roots of peanuts, soybean and potato, causing considerable yield loss (15-100%). Adults of Potosia brevitarsis are active above ground and feed on a range of fruits and sweet corn while its larvae feed on roots, dung and decaying matter. The pest status and management of these scarab beetles is a challenge to the farming community across the globe due to bans on soil insecticides, pesticide resistance, and limited efficacy of foliar insecticides. Understanding the chemical ecology of oviposition in these beetles is key to the development of alternative control strategies such as attract-and-kill traps. This review recorded 138 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from oviposition hosts of these beetles. These are green leaf volatiles, sex pheromones and odors from decomposing materials. These compounds are identified as terpenoids, aliphatic alcohols, esters, aldehydes, alkenes, alkanes, ketones, aromatic compounds, carboxylic acids, and heterocyclic compounds. They are also reported to bind on chemosensory receptors, which may justify oviposition behavioral responses in these beetles. Research gaps are highlighted to underpin the designing of further in-depth studies to develop selective and safer control measures for Integrated Pest Management programs.
