The role of olfactory and physical cues in aggregation behaviour, dispersal and host location by the single-sex Fuller's rose weevil

Fuller’s rose weevil, Asynonychus cervinus (FRW) is an important quarantine pest of exported Kiwi fruits to Japan. Adult Fuller’s rose weevil usually lays its eggs in the crevices underneath the calyx of the fruits. Upon detection of the egg masses in fruits by quarantine authorities, fumigation take place which cost around NZ$3m/year, plus this process causes quality loss.

Aggregations of FRW have been observed both in the field and in the laboratory. Aggregation behaviour is usually induced by either chemical cues (e.g. aggregation pheromones) or by physical cues (e.g. humidity, shelter, surface texture). This project aim to achieve the following milestones:

• Identification of the chemical and physical components of aggregation behaviour in the single-sex FRW.
• Identification of potential host and non-host plant odour compounds that regulate the behaviour of the FRW adults.
• Investigate the response of FRW to potential olfactory and physical cues and to evaluate this knowledge in the context of a potential pest management or biosecurity programmes.
• Develop and test a trap that can be used to detect, monitor and/or mass trap FRW.