The chemical ecology of chestnut: Research into the GC-EAD response to and behavioral bioassays of volatile organic compounds from chestnut tree tissue by Curculio sayi

The lesser chestnut weevil, Curculio sayi, is the primary pest of chestnut production in the US and is highly host specific. Our research into identifying the various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with chestnut lend to the further understanding of this insect pest and how it locates its host tree. Differences between spring and fall insects may be directly correlated to obligate nutritional factors based around tree phenology. We use both electroantennal and behavioral responses of C. sayi to target specific compounds in the chestnut tree volatile profile that show merit for enhancing any monitoring or control tactics for this pest.