Abstract: The red turpentine beetle (RTB), Dendroctonus valens LeConte, an invasive pest from the United States became a major forest pest in its invading areas since its first outbreak in Shanxi Province, China in 1999. As an exotic pest, effective detection and monitoring is top priority in containing its further damage. The response of RTB to its host semiochemicals was explored in Shanxi Province using Lindgren funnel trap. The results indicated that 3-carene was found to be the most attractive host monoterpene tested, and it attracted significantly more beetles than did any other single or ternary blend, which was distinctly different from the previous reports conducted in its native range, west coast of the United States. The mechanism for this regional variation of RTB response to host volatiles was discussed. Increase of (-)-β-pinene did not result in any increase of beetles trapped while adding limonene which is another main component in volatile profile of Pinus tabulaeformis, to the standard lure used in North America (a 1∶1∶1 blend of (+)-α- pinene, (-)-β-pinene, and 3-carene) significantly decreased RTB response. The effect of release rate on RTB response was tested by using the standard blend at 110 mg/day, 150 mg/day, 180 mg/day and 210 mg/day, and 150 mg/day was found to be the most optimal release rate for RTB in terms of both attractiveness and economic efficiency. Thus, this effective RTB lure can be used in RTB monitoring and control.

Key words: Pinus tabulaeformis, Dendroctonus valens, invasive pest, semiochemicals attractant, volatile