RESPONSE OF RHYZOPERTHA-DOMINICA (COLEOPTERA, BOSTRICHIDAE) TO ITS AGGREGATION PHEROMONE AND WHEAT VOLATILES

The attraction of adult Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) to its aggregation pheromone and to volatiles of infested wheat was examined in relation to age, sex, and female mating status. Male and female beetles did not differ in their response to pheromone or wheat volatiles regardless of insect tge. Virgin and mated females did not differ in their response to the pheromone or wheat volatiles. R. dominica was more responsive to wheat that was infested than to clean wheat, and the response was proportional to the density of insects in the wheat. This suggests a strong attraction to the insect pheromone in infested grain. The implications of these findings for the attraction and migration of R. dominica to stored wheat are discussed.