Scientists develop synthetic sex pheromone to fool voracious ash beetle

2nd February 2022

 

Tricking a beetle that is devastating ash trees in many parts of the world into thinking there is love in the air could be hugely beneficial to the forestry industry.

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A chemistry student at the University of Chester has been working with industry leader International Pheromone Systems to meet the challenge of producing a ‘matchmaking’ synthetic pheromone for monitoring and managing an insect responsible for the global destruction of millions of trees.

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A native of Asia, it is thought that the Emerald Ash Borer was introduced into North America in imported wooden packing material. Ash trees have been widely planted in urban situations in North America and are also economically important as a commercial timber crop. Adult beetles appear from mid-May to late July and must feed on ash foliage. They are slender and elongated, measuring between 7.5 and 13.5mm long and are metallic emerald green in colour. Adult females live for about 22 days and males slightly less. The females each produce between 60 and 90 eggs.

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Now a serious economic pest, the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis, is devastating ash trees in Eastern Europe, Georgia, North America, Canada and China and could spread further as a result of trade in timber goods. Having already killed an estimated 30 million trees in North America, it presents a serious threat to ash trees all over Europe and is included in the 20 priority quarantine pests of the EU. With the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer there is a shortage of monitoring traps needed by forest managers.

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The most effective solution for managing insect pests is a holistic approach called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM involves using a variety of different strategies in combination to maintain insect pest populations below a level that is deemed to be economically harmful. Insect pheromones play a very important role in any IPM system. Lures that slowly emit insect pheromones are used in traps to monitor and, in some cases, control specific pests. IPM helps to balance the scales in favour of beneficials such as natural predators. As a result, pesticide use is decreased and diversity is increased.

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Some pheromones are easier to source or make than others. The pheromone for the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle however is very difficult to source which makes it expensive to use in traps. Field trials have been conducted in Québec, Canada to test a new synthetic pheromone against the main commercial lure. The tests showed the synthetic pheromone worked just as well as the commercial one.

 

Technical Manager for International Pheromone Systems Dr Sam Jones explains: “Insects that are usually controlled by natural predators in their native regions are able to proliferate rapidly when reaching new regions with suitable conditions. Continued growth in international trade introduces pests to new regions and global warming often increases the range in which the pest can effectively survive and populate. This is the case with the Emerald Ash Borer.

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“An effective pheromone lure for monitoring and management of this pest is therefore of utmost importance. The most efficacious attractant for this species consists of a synergistic mix of a female produced sex pheromone and a volatile chemical produced by ash foliage which is used by the beetles to locate their host. We had access to the green leaf volatile but were previously unable to source the required pheromone component. We’re delighted that the pheromone component has been successfully synthesised during this project using a novel synthetic route.”

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University of Chester Master’s student Ashley Broughton, successfully worked on the project in the chemistry labs under the supervision of Senior Lecturer Dr Noha Ziedan. Ashley worked on producing a stable, synthetic ‘Pheromone analogue’ which is a chemical compound that is similar in construction to the actual pheromone.

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Dr Noha Ziedan explains: “We were really pleased to have the opportunity to be involved with this commercial and extremely important project and very proud of Ashley’s achievement. The result is an analogue that is synthetically accessible over a short time, high purity and can be produced at a much lower cost.”

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The project was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014-2020 programme as part of the Eco-Innovation (Cheshire and Warrington) Programme.

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IPS came up with the project proposal and together with the University interviewed three students for the best fit. IPS regularly met with Ashley and Noha during the year-long research project.

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Dr Ziedan added: “We are now interested to hear from potential customers and will start manufacturing when we know there is a clear demand. The larger the volume we produce the cheaper it will be for customers.”

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Ashley said: “I like to think that the project contributed in a small way to the advancement of pheromone insect control. I benefited from the project by gaining experience of laboratory chemistry, particularly analytical techniques.”

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Notes to Editors

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International Pheromone Systems

If you are interested in ordering a lure for this pest, please contact IPS Customer Services at customerservices@ips1985.co.uk  

IPS is a customer-orientated company with 35 years of experience in developing, producing and supplying high-quality insect pheromone and kairomone formulations and associated trapping systems to a growing international customer base. The company specialises in supplying semiochemical lures, formulated liquids and traps to monitor and control insect pests and promoting sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) within agricultural, horticultural, forestry, storage and urban settings.

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A core value of the company is to promote and support Integrated Pest Management programs which offer ecological and environmentally sustainable solutions to pest management.

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Ash is an important broadleaf tree in the UK, the second most commonly planted genus, and makes up nearly 15% of all broad-leaved woodlands. Its wood is strong with many uses including the manufacture of ladders, flooring, handles, sports goods and furniture.

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Although there is no evidence to date that the Emerald Ash Borer is present in the UK, the increase in global movement of imported wood, wood packaging and dunnage poses a significant risk of its accidental introduction.

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In the UK, ash trees can suffer from a variety of root and butt rots that can cause late flushing, thinning foliage and decline leading to eventual death, symptoms similar to those caused by the Emerald Ash Borer.

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Eco-Innovation Cheshire and Warrington

This was a c£4m project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014-2020 programme. The project was led by the University of Chester who partnered with Lancaster University to work with local SMEs to support the innovation and adoption of Low Carbon Technologies.

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Drawing on the resource and expertise of these leading universities, the project delivered an intensive programme of collaborative R&D interventions and activities designed to facilitate commercialisation of new products, processes and services and underpin the sustainable growth of Cheshire and Warrington’s low carbon and renewables marketplace.

 

ENDS

Press enquiries please contact Suzi Christie at IPS on 07590 591140 or email suzi@blueberry-pr.co.uk or communications@chester.ac.uk

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