The ROLE of OLFACTION in SUBSTRATE LOCATION by EUOPHRYUM CONFINE (BROUN) (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

Abstract:
Olfaction behaviour of adultEuophryum confine was investigated using a wood substrate decayed by brown rot and white rot fungi. The first part of this study established whether adult weevils demonstrate a preference for wood modified by decay fungi over sound wood of the same species. Blocks of Pinus nigra (Arnold) sapwood were decayed with the brown rots Coniophora puteana (Schum.:Fr.) Karst, Serpula lacrymans (Wulf. :Fr.) Schroeter, and the white rotFibroporia vaillantii (DC. :Fr.) Parmasto. E. confine adults demonstrated a significant attraction to wood decayed by C. puteana and S. lacrymans. The second part of the study investigated the role of volatiles released during wood decay in attracting E. confine adults. The role of ethanol and three volatiles released (a-pinene, 2-pentanone, and 2-heptanal) as potential attractants was investigated. This study found E. confine adults exhibit a significant attraction to a-pinene, 2-pentanone, and ethanol.