Odorants of Capsicum spp. Dried Fruits as Candidate Attractants for Lasioderma serricorne F. (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne F. (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), is an important pest of stored products. It can be monitored using pheromone traps with or without a food source as a synergistic attractant. The study objective was to assess the response of L. serricorne to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from different chili fruit powders to identify semiochemicals involved in this attraction which could be used as synthetic co-attractants in pheromone traps. Olfactometer results indicated that Capsicum annuum and C. frutescens VOCs elicit attraction toward L. serricorne adults, while C. chinense VOCs elicit no attraction. Chemical analysis and behavioral assays indicated a primary role for polar compounds in the attraction toward these sources. α-Ionone and β-ionone, compounds abundant in the attractive species and which elicited positive results in the olfactometer bioassays, may be promising candidates as attractant and/or pheromone synergist in monitoring traps for L. serricorne. ABSTRACT: The cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne F. (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) is an important food storage pest affecting the tobacco industry and is increasingly impacting museums and herbaria. Monitoring methods make use of pheromone traps which can be implemented using chili fruit powder. The objective of this study was to assess the response of L. serricorne to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from different chili powders in order to identify the main semiochemicals involved in this attraction. Volatiles emitted by Capsicum annuum, C. frutescens, and C. chinense dried fruit powders were tested in an olfactometer and collected and analyzed using SPME and GC-MS. Results indicated that C. annuum and C. frutescens VOCs elicit attraction toward L. serricorne adults in olfactometer, while C. chinense VOCs elicit no attraction. Chemicals analysis showed a higher presence of polar compounds in the VOCs of C. annuum and C. frutescens compared to C. chinense, with α-ionone and β-ionone being more abundant in the attractive species. Further olfactometer bioassays indicated that both α-ionone and β-ionone elicit attraction, suggesting that these compounds are candidates as synergistic attractants in pheromone monitoring traps for L. serricorne.