Volatile organic compounds released by barley roots attract wireworms

Wireworms, the soil dwelling larvae of click beetles, are pests of many crops worldwide. Alternatives to insecticide treatments are needed for integrated management strategies. Our work consists in elucidating the role of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) root-emitted volatile organic compounds (VOC) on the orientation behaviour of Agriotes sordidus Illiger wireworms (Fig. 1).
Using dual choice olfactometers, we have evaluated the attractiveness of baits ranging from barley roots themselves to one isolated root-emitted volatile organic compound.