- Zanardi, Odimar Z;
- Volpe, Haroldo XL;
- Luvizotto, Rejane AG;
- Magnani, Rodrigo F;
- Gonzalez, Francisco;
- Calvo, Carolina;
- Oehlschlager, Cameron A;
- Lehan, Benjamin J;
- Esperança, Victoria;
- Delfino, Jennifer Y;
- de Freitas, Renato;
- de Carvalho, Rômulo Igor;
- Mulinari, Tatiana Aparecida;
- Miranda, Marcelo P;
- Bento, José Mauricio S;
- Leal, Walter S
The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is a vector of a pathogen associated with greening and thus a major problem in citriculture worldwide. Lures are much needed for improving ACP trapping systems for monitoring populations and surveillance. Previously, we have identified acetic acid as a putative sex pheromone and measured formic acid- and propionic acid-elicited robust electroantennographic responses. We have now thoroughly examined in indoor behavioral assays (4-way olfactometer) and field tests the feasibility of these three semiochemicals as potential lures for trapping ACP. Formic acid, acetic acid, and propionic acid at appropriate doses are male-specific attractants and suitable lures for ACP traps, but they do not act synergistically. An acetic acid-based homemade lure, prepared by impregnating the attractant in a polymer, was active for a day. A newly developed slow-release formulation had equal performance but lasted longer, thus leading to an important improvement in ACP trap capture at low population densities.