A review of the chemical ecology of the Cerambycidae (Coleoptera)

Summary. This review summarizes the literature related tothe chemical ecology of the Cerambycidae and provides abrief overview of cerambycid biology, ecology, economicsignificance, and management. Beetles in the familyCerambycidae have assumed increasing prominence as pestsof forest and shade trees, shrubs, and raw wood products, andas vectors of tree diseases. Exotic species associated withsolid wood packing materials have been notable tree killersin North American urban and peri-urban forests. In forestedecosystems native species respond to disturbances such asfires and windstorms, and initiate the biodeterioration ofwoody tissue. Eggs are laid by females, on or through thebark surface of stem and branch tissue of moribund, recentlykilled or decomposing woody plants; larval cerambycids(roundheaded woodborers) typically feed in the phloem andlater in the xylem. Females will also, in some cases, selectliving hosts, e.g. adult conifer and angiosperm trees, foroviposition. Research on the chemical ecology of over 70species has revealed many examples of attractive kairomones(such as floral volatiles, smoke volatiles, trunk and leafvolatiles, and bark beetle pheromones), repellents anddeterrents, oviposition stimulants, short- and long-range sexpheromones, and defensive substances. Emerging generalitiesare that attractants tend to be monoterpenoids and phenolicesters; oviposition stimulants are monoterpenoids andflavanoids; short-range sex pheromones are female-produced,methyl-branched cuticular hydrocarbons; andlong-range sex pheromones are male-produced -hydroxyketones and (,)-diols ranging in length from 6 to 10 carbons.The latter compounds appear to originate from glandsin the male thorax; putative defensive substances originatefrom metasternal secretory pores or mandibular glands. Inone unusual case, a flightless, subterranean female thatattacks sugar cane produces a sex pheromone that is derivedfrom the amino acid isoleucine. With significantly more than35,000 species of Cerambycidae worldwide, these generalitieswill be subject to change as more species are examined.Addendum The authors would like to point out that the electronic version is more accurate than the printed version.