Fernanda Flores

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso | PUCV

The leafroller Proeulia auraria (Clarke) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a native, polyphagous, and growing pest of several fruit crops in Chile; it also has quarantine importance to several markets, thus tools for management are needed. Using synthetic pheromone compounds, we conducted field trials to optimize the blend for monitoring, and to determ...

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a predatory insect widely commercialized for the augmentative biological control of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Though visual factors that guide this predator to its prey have been reported, the chemical cues that they may also use have not been well studied. In this stud...

The main pheromone component of Chilecomadia valdiviana has recently been reported to be (7Z,10Z)-7,10-hexadecadienal. The synthesis of a structural analog, (5Z,8Z)-5,8-tetradecadienyl formate is reported. The pheromone analog was not attractive to male C. valdiviana in the field, nor did it antagonize attraction of males to the pheromone compound.

A commercial pyrethrum extract was used as a source of chrysanthemol for the synthesis of the citrophilus mealybug (Pseudococcus calceolariae) sex pheromone. The chrysanthemic acid esters (pyrethrins I) were isolated and subsequently reduced to obtain chrysanthemol, which was used for ester pheromone synthesis. Field tests showed that the pheromone...

A commercial pyrethrum extract was used as a source of chrysanthemol for the synthesis of the citrophilus mealybug (Pseudococcus calceolariae) sex pheromone. The chrysanthemic acid esters (pyrethrins I) were isolated and subsequently reduced to obtain chrysanthemol, which was used for ester pheromone synthesis. Field tests showed that the pheromone...

A commercial pyrethrum extract was used as a source of chrysanthemol for the synthesis of the citrophilus mealybug (Pseudococcus calceolariae) sex pheromone. The chrysanthemic acid esters (pyrethrins I) were isolated and subsequently reduced to obtain chrysanthemol, which was used for ester pheromone synthesis. Field tests showed that the pheromone...

Chilecomadia valdiviana (Philippi) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) is an insect native to Chile. The larval stages feed on the wood of economically important fruit tree species such as apple, pear, olive, cherry, and avocado, and also on eucalyptus. This causes weakening and, in case of severe infestation, death of the tree. We report identification of the...

Proeulia triquetra Obraztsov (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is an occasional pest in fruit orchards in central-southern Chile. In order to develop species-specific lures for detection and monitoring of this species, we identified the female-produced sex pheromone. (Z)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:OAc), (E)-9-dodecenyl acetate (E9-12:OAc), and (E)-11...

Trialeurodes vaporariorum, causa importantes daños económicos en cultivos hortícolas y ornamentales a nivel mundial. En nuestro país, se distribuye en una amplia zona geográfica, siendo la Región de Valparaíso, en donde se reportan los mayores efectos. El presente estudio busca determinar la preferencia y desempeño del insecto, frente a distintos h...

The citrophilus mealybug, Pseudococcus calceolariae (Maskell), is an important pest of fruit crops in many regions of the world. Recently, its sex pheromone has been identified and synthesized. We carried out field experiments with the goal of developing monitoring protocols for P. calceolariae using pheromone-baited traps. Traps checked hourly for...

The carpenter worm, Chilecomadia valdiviana (Lepidoptera: Cossidae), is a polyphagous insect native to Chile that is associated with trees and bushes, including economically important species such as eucalyptus, avocado, and apples. We used a Y-olfactometer to analyze the olfactory responses of larvae to conspecific larvae, hexane extracts of larva...

The absolute configuration of the sex pheromone of the citrophilous mealybug, Pseudococcus calceolariae, was determined to be (1R,3R)-[2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)cyclopropyl]methyl (R)-2-acetoxy-3-methylbutanoate. NMR, derivatization reactions, chiral gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and comparison with synthetic chiral reference comp...

The citrophilus mealybug, Pseudococcus calceolariae, is a polyphagous pest that has a major impact on fruit crops in central Chile, and is of quarantine importance for many markets. To study many control alternatives, it is important to develop efficient rearing protocols. The objective of this work was to determine mealybug development on three di...

The citrophilus mealybug, Pseudococcus calceolariae, is a polyphagous pest that has a major impact on fruit crops in central Chile, and is of quarantine importance for many markets. To study many control alternatives, it is important to develop efficient rearing protocols. The objective of this work was to determine mealybug development on three di...

Headspace volatiles collected from virgin females of the citrophilous mealybug, Pseudococcus calceolariae, contain three compounds not present in the headspace of control samples. The main female-specific compound is identified as [2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)cyclopropyl]methyl 2-acetoxy-3-methylbutanoate (chrysanthemyl 2-acetoxy-3-methylbu...

The synthesis of insect pheromones published in the period 2005-2007 is reviewed. A total of 66 compounds from different insect orders and belonging to different structural classes were included.