Antifeedants against the pine weevil

• The known pine weevil antifeedant carvone is a volatile compound. Hence its antifeedant effect decreases rapidly in the field. Therefore we have developed synthetic procedures allowing us to prepare a number of heavier and less volatile analogues of carvone. The analogues were prepared in amounts sufficient for laboratory tests and in some instances also for field tests. The biological tests were made by the Alnarp group (Pine weevil project) and some promising antifeedants were identified.
• Several types of compounds were identified as potential antifeedants. For one of this types a thorough investigation of how the activity varies, when the structure of the antifeedant is changed has been performed. Biological tests by the Alnarp group (Pine weevil project) have led to a number of new active compounds.
• The pine weevils feed on many plants. Some plants, however, seem to have a natural defence against the pine weevil. In co-operation with the Alnarp group (Pine weevil project) we have identified a wide variety of such non-host plants. From one of them a new potent antifeedant has been isolated and tested.

Other behaviour modifying compounds

• The active isomers of tribolure, a pheromone component of some species of flour beetles (Tribolium spp.) have been synthesised from isomerically pure building blocks. The compounds are used by to the Lund group (Stored product pests) for investigation of the chemical communication system of the flour beetles.
• Some defense compounds, so called quinones, used by many stored pest insects such as the flour beetles have been synthesised and delivered to the Lund group for investigation of the chemical communication system of the flour beetles.
• Procedures have been developed for the synthesis of isomerically pure germacradienol and the closely related compound, germacrene D. The former is a probable defense compound of the larvae of some pine sawflies. The latter compound is a widely occurring plant product of potential interest in the host recognition system of several pest insects.