Anthonomus rubi

Strawberry blossom weevil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculionidae
Genus: Anthonomus
Species: A. rubi
Binomial name
Anthonomus rubi
Herbst, 1795

The Strawberry blossom weevil, Anthonomus rubi is a weevil that feeds of members of the Rosacea and is an important pest of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.). This insect is a particularly problematic pest of strawberry in Europe, in some cases responsible for up to 80% loss of the berry crop.[1] Adults feed on strawberry foliage, and females lay one egg per flower bud; larvae develop inside buds.

Role of pheromones

Adults are thought to be attracted to strawberries by chemicals released by the plants. Monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and aromatic compounds acted as odorants (attractors) on weevils' receptor neurons.[2] Male A. rubi then release their own blend of aggregation pheromone, three components of which have been shown to attract weevils to baited traps.[3]

References

  1. ^ Popov, S.Ya. (1996) Possibility of monitoring the population density of the strawberry blossom weevil, Anthonomus rubi Herbst (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), on strawberry by two methods: counting clipped buds and using pheromones. Entomol. Rev., 75, 104–109.
  2. ^ Helena Bichão, Anna-Karin Borg-Karlson, Jorge Araújo and Hanna Mustaparta. "Five Types of Olfactory Receptor Neurons in the Strawberry Blossom Weevil Anthonomus rubi: Selective Responses to Inducible Host-plant Volatiles". Chemical Senses 2005 30(2):153-170; doi:10.1093/chemse/bji012. http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/30/2/153. 
  3. ^ Innocenzi, P.J., Hall, D.R. and Cross, J.V. (2001) Components of male aggregation pheromone of strawberry blossom weevil, Anthomonus rubi, Herbst. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J. Chem. Ecol., 27, 1203–1218.