Flea beetle

Secondary Hazards Crop debris Mechanical Vectors (contaminated containers farm implements wash water) Vectors (Colorado potato beetle flea beetle leafhoppers sucking insects such as aphids). 

In some flea beetles, Phyllotreta and Aphthona spp., species specific, male produced blends of himachalene derivatives like 201,202, and 203 were identified. Structure elucidation was carefully carried out on the basis of spectroscopic methods, micro reactions, and independent syntheses [370,371]. Compounds 201,202,203 are perceived by both male and female antennae, as would be expected for an aggregation pheromone. Investigations on the behaviour mediating capacity of the compounds are ongoing. 

Six male specific compounds were isolated from the crucifer flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae, and the same compounds plus two additional compounds were isolated from males of Aphthona flava, A. czwalinae, and A. cyparissiae. Three of the compounds were identified as (-F)-i r-himachalene, (-F)- ra w-a-himachalene (-F)-y-cadinene. Two other compounds were identified as new enantiomers of himachalene hydrocarbons that were previously identified from the fir trees, Abies alba and Abies nordmanniana. Finally, there were two himachalene alcohols and one nonsesquiterpene ketone that is a himachalene analog that were identified. The chemical and electrophysiological patterns are consistent with, but do not prove, a pheromonal function. 

Synthesis of (J )-ar-himachalene, a pheromone component of the flea beetle, has been reported. 

Male ptoduced phetotnone candidates of the flea beetle Aphthona Flava, which wete four himachalene type sesquiterpenes were synthesized from (i )-(+)-citronellal and their stereochemistry discussed. However, there is some ambiguity regarding the stereochemistry. ... 

Two male-produced aggregation pheromone compounds from the eggplant flea beetle Epitrix fuscula, were identified by synthesis as 2E, AE, 6Z)-2,4,6-nontrienal and 2E, AE, 6E)-2,A,6-nonatrienal. ... 

Dobler, S., Haberer, W., Witte, L. and Hartmann, T. 2000. Selective sequestration of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from diverse host plants by Longitarsus flea beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 26 1281-1298. 

Many Insects have become specialists on crucifers and a few related plant families. These Include flea beetles, leaf beetles, cabbage root fly, aphids, cabbage butterflies and the dlamondback moth. At the same time, several polyphagous Insects such as the cabbage looper, armyworms and aphids are major pests of crucifers. Comparative studies on these specialists and generalists have provided valuable Information on host recognition and possible resistance mechanisms. 

Peng, C. W. and Weiss, M. J. (1992). Evidence of an aggregation pheromone in the flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 18 875-884. 

For the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle the established lethal dose of lead hydrogen arsenate is 0-30 mg. per gram of body weight 6 that of Paris green is less than one-third that amount. The quantity of arsenic remaining in potato fields after treatment is so small as to offer no danger of intoxication.7 Calcium arsenate is most efficient and economical for the control of the potato flea beetle.8 A study of the use of similar dusts for the control of June beetles on oak leaves showed that the death of the beetles, which occurred within 72 hours, was due to their eating the poison and not to contact with the dust. ... 

Steinernema feltiae A beneficial nematode that attacks the larvae of soil and aboveground insect pests such as fungus gnat, various flies, flea beetles, and some plant parasitic nematodes. 

Nelson, D.R., Olson, D.L., and Fatland, C.L. (2002). Cuticular hydrocarbons of the flea beetles, Aphthona lacertosa and Aphthona nigriscutis, biocontrol agents for leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula). Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 133B, 337-350. 

It has been discovered that the crucifer flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae Goeze, a significant pest of oilseed Brassica and other cruciferous crops in North America and Europe, uses a hydrocarbon pheromone. The first published evidence for a pheromone in P. cruciferae was that canola plants infested by unsexed adults were more attractive to both males and females than damaged plants only, in both laboratory and field bioassays (Peng and Weiss, 1992). Subsequently, Peng et al. (1999) determined with field bioassays that the males were the attractive sex, fitting the pattern of a male-produced aggregation pheromone. 

Bartelt, R.J., Cosse, A.A., Zilkowski, B.W., Weisleder, D. andMomany, F.A. (2001). Male-specific sesquiterpenes from Phyllotreta and Aphthona flea beetles. J. Chem. Ecol., 27, 2397-2423. 

Bartelt, R. J., Weisleder, D. and Momany, F.A. (2003). Total synthesis of himachalene sesquiterpenes of Aphthona and Phyllotreta flea beetles. Synthesis, 2003, 117-123. 

Mori, K. (2005). Synthesis of (R)-ar-turmerone and its conversion to (R)-ar-himachalene, a pheromone component of the flea beetle (R)-ar-himachalene is dextrorotatory in hexane, while levorotatory in chloroform. Tetrahedron Asymmetr., 16, 685-692. 

Muto, S., Bando, M. and Mori, K. (2004). Synthesis and stereochemistry of the four himachalene-type sesquiterpenes isolated from the flea beetle (Aphthona flava) as pheromone candidates. Eur. J. Org. Chem., 2004,1946-1952. 

Peng, C., Bartelt, R. J. and Weiss, M. J. (1999). Male crucifer flea beetles produce an aggregation pheromone. Physiol. Entomol., 24, 98-99. 

Soroka, J. J., Bartelt, R. J., Zilkowski, B. W. and Cosse, A. A. (2005). Responses of flea beetle Phyllotreta cruciferae to synthetic aggregation pheromone components and host plant volatiles in field trials../. Chem. Ecol., 31,1829-1843. 

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