How volatile organic compounds from sugar beets drive root maggot (Tetanops myopaeformis) behavior

Sugar beet root maggot (SBRM; Tetanops myopaeformis) is a significant pest of sugar beets (Beta vulgaris L.) throughout growing regions in the United States and Canada, causing >40% yield losses in some areas. Only a handful of insecticides have been registered for SBRM control in the past five decades and many are being phased out of use. Host plant resistance and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been understudied for their use in management of SBRM. In the current study, we quantified VOCs from the preferred host plant, sugar beet, another cultivated host plant (spinach), and wild host plants (ragweed, palmer amaranth, redroot pigweed, and common lambsquarters). Then, in olfactometer bioassays, we identified VOCs that affected adult SBRM host location and larval preference. A diverse array of VOCs were emitted from the plant species and impacted SBRM behavior. We propose that these VOCs should be used in trap cropping strategies for reducing insecticide sprays.