Attraction of wireworms to root-emitted volatile organic compounds of barley

The ability of wireworms (Agriotes sordidus Illiger) to orientate towards a blend of volatiles emitted by chopped roots of barley was tested. During individual tests, the larvae chose between the two sides of a Y-shaped olfactometer. One side was connected to a chamber containing the chopped roots and the other was connected to an empty chamber. Wireworms chose significantly more often the side of the olfactometer providing the blend of root volatiles. This result underlines the importance of the identification of these compounds and their role assessment alone or combined, as for their effect on wireworms. Such compounds could be used in IPM strategies.