Albert B. DeMilo

Isolation and identification of a compound from soybean cyst nematode,Heterodera glycines, with sex pheromone activity.

A single compound with sex pheromone activity was isolated from the female soybean cyst nematode,Heterodera glycines, by a sequence of four high-performance liquid chromatographic steps and identified as vanillic acid by a combination of ultraviolet spectroscopy and chromatography. The structure was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Both attractancy and coiling behavior in male soybean cyst nematode were elicited by authentic vanillic acid.

Mexican Fruit Fly Attractants: Effects of 1-Pyrroline and Other Amines on Attractiveness of a Mixture of Ammonia, Methylamine, and Putrescine

Several amines were tested alone and in combination with AMPu, an attractant mixture containing ammonium bicarbonate or ammonium carbonate, methylamine hydrochloride, and putrescine, for attractiveness to Mexican fruit flies (Anastrepha ludens Loew). In laboratory bioassay, 1-pyrroline, 3-pyrroline, 2-(methylamino)ethanol, spermidine, spermine, and indole-3-acetic acid were significantly more attractive than solvent controls. In orchard tests, traps baited with combinations of AMPu with dimethylamine hydrochloride, ethylamine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, or pyrrolidine captured fewer flies than traps baited with AMPu alone. Traps containing AMPu plus additional ammonium bicarbonate were much less attractive than AMPu alone. Combinations of AMPu with 1-pyrroline were about 50% more attractive than AMPu alone to both males and females. Combinations of AMPu with 3-pyrroline were not significantly more attractive than AMPu alone.

Attractiveness to Mexican fruit flies of combinations of acetic acid with ammonium/amino attractants with emphasis on effects of hunger

Ammonium acetate was more attractive than other ammonium salts to Mexican fruit flies (Anastrepha ludens) in an orchard test. We hypothesized that acetic acid enhanced the attractiveness of ammonia in the orchard test and that acetic acid may similarly enhance attractiveness of AMPu, an attractant consisting of a mixture of ammonium bicarbonate or ammonium carbonate, methylamine HCl, and putrescine. In laboratory experiments, acetic acid was attractive to flies deprived of either yeast hydrolysate or both sugar and yeast hydrolysate but not to flies fed both sugar and yeast hydrolysate. AMPu/acetic acid combinations were more attractive than AMPu alone to flies deprived of both sugar and yeast hydrolysate but not to flies fed sugar, regardless of yeast hydrolysate deprivation status. Acetic acid is the first attractant found that has become more attractive with both sugar and protein deprivation in studies withA. ludens. It is also the first that has enhanced the attractiveness of another attractant type. In orchard tests, yellow sticky panels baited with either AMPu or 17 mg of acetic acid were at least six times more attractive than unbaited panels. However, panels baited with both acetic acid (17–68 mg) and AMPu were less attractive than AMPu alone. These results differed from the laboratory data in which combinations were never less attractive than AMPu alone.

Trans-ceralure isomers: Differences in attraction for mediterranean fruit fly,Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) (diptera: Tephritidae)

Differences in attractiveness of four individualtrans isomers of ceralure (CRL) [ethyl 4- (and 5-) iodo-trans-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate] for male Mediterranean fruit fly,Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), were investigated. One of the isomers, CRL-B1 (ethylcis-5-iodo-trans-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate) was significantly superior to the three othertrans-CRL isomers, CRL, trimedlure (TML) [1,1-dimethylethyl 4- (and 5-) chloro-trans-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate], and TML-C (1,1-dimethylethyl-cis-4-chloro-trans-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate) on an equal weight basis.

Evaluation of a Water-Soluble Bait for Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Control

Laboratory and field-cage experiments evaluated the efficacy of a water-soluble bait for control of adult diabroticites. The bait was composed of a water-soluble feeding stimulant derived from a bi...

Comparison of Ceralure and Trimedlure Attractants for the Male Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is a major pest of fruits and vegetables in the world but, through an extensive trapping program, the continental United States has rema...

Spectral Characterization of Cucurbitacins in a Bitter Mutant of Hawkesbury Watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris Schrad) that Elicit a Feeding Response to Diabroticite Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)2

Fractions obtained by open-column flash chromatography of a crude methanolic extract of the rind of a bitter mutant of Hawkesbury watermelon, Citrullus vulgaris Schrad, were further purified by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to isolate chemical component(s) that elicit a visitation/feeding stimulancy response to the southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber. Activity of chromatographic fractions were followed with a laboratory bioassay involving total insect-response counts. The chemical structure of the most active component in C. vulgaris was confirmed by chemical ionization mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to be cucurbitacin-E glycoside. Two other cucurbitacin-like compounds were isolated and structures for them postulated. A procedure to prepare a crude, biologically active, extract of C. vulgaris is reported. Dose-response data for the crude extract in laboratory tests against two diabroticite beetles D. undecimpun...

Volatile Components of a Chicken Feather Hydrolysate that is Highly Attractive to the West Indian and Mexican Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

A chicken feather hydrolysate prepared by heating feathers with 6N hydrochloric acid was highly attractive to the West Indian fruit fly, Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), and the Mexican fruit fly, An...

Synthesis of attractants for oriental fruit flyDacus dorsalis Hendel using a catalytic organocopper coupling reaction

A general synthetic approach to various catechol derivatives was developed using a copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 1,2-dimethoxy-4-brornomethyl, 1-ethoxy-2-methoxy-4-bromomethyl- and 2-ethoxy-1-methoxy-4-bromomethylbenzenes with Grignard reagents. Dilithium tetrachlorocuprate was an acceptable catalyst in the dimethoxy series, whereas copper(I) iodide in THF-HMPA was a superior catalyst in all cases due to decreased side reactions, i.e., reduction and reductive coupling. Methyl-substituted analogs of methyl eugenol, a potent attractant of Oriental fruit fly,Dacus dorsalis Hendel, were synthesized by this method and evaluated for attractancy in field tests.

Inhibition of ecdysis in Oncopeltus fasciatus by 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones

Abstract [1-(2-Pyridinyl)ethylidene]hydrazide of 1-pyrrolidinecarbothioic acid (AI3-63967) and seven similar thiosemicarbazones applied topically to Oncopeltus fasciatus were toxic or prevented ecdysis in fifth instars without the appearance of supernumerary nymphs. Treatments with AI3-63967 did not affect weight gain of the nymphs but delayed by 2 days the rise in hemolymph ecdysteroids and reduced their maximal titer by ca. 40%. Restoration of the ecdysteroid titer by injections of makisterone A or 20-hydroxyecdysone did not prevent the molting aberrations. Treated fourth instars exhibited incomplete ecdysis followed by death and treated adults died within 9 days post-treatment. Apparently, this group of thiosemicarbazones acts by a mechanism different from that of juvenile hormone mimics or chitin synthesis inhibitors.