EVIDENCE FOR A FEMALE-PRODUCED PHEROMONE IN THE WHITE PINE CONE BEETLE, CONOPHTHORUS CONIPERDA (SCHWARZ), AND IN THE RED PINE CONE BEETLE, C. RESINOSAE HOPKINS (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE)

Evidence for a female-produced sex pheromone in the white pine cone beetle, Conophthorus coniperda (Schwarz), and the red pine cone beetle, C. resinosae Hopkins, was obtained from laboratory bioassays and field experiments conducted with C. coniperda beetles from Ontario and North Carolina. In an olfactometer, males from both species responded significantly more to volatiles from females than to volatiles from males or cones. Generally, females did not differ in their response to female-, male-, or cone-produced volatiles. Both sexes responded to host volatiles. The strong response by male C. coniperda to females was confirmed in field tests.