Synergistic Chemical Attraction of the Eastern Yellowjacket, Vespula maculifrons (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Combinations of (E)-2-hexenal diethyl acetal, racemic α-terpineol or linalool, with or without benzyl alcohol incorporated into polyvinyl chloride attracted wasps in the Vespula vulgaris species group, including the Eastern, Vespula maculifrons (Buysson), and German, V. germanica (F.), yellowjackets. (E)-2-Hexenal diethyl acetal degrades to release (E)-2-hexenal (the active attractant form) and ethanol, which may help kill yellowjackets caught in the water inside the traps used for testing. Combining the (E)-2-hexenal diethyl acetal/α-terpineol or linalool mixtures with another blend previously reported as attractive to yellowjackets (acetic acid/isobutanol) synergistically attracted the Eastern yellowjacket. It is hypothesized that the synergistic attraction is a result of combining volatile chemicals associated with carbohydrate feeding (acetic acid/isobutanol) and volatiles associated with foraging for insect prey (hexenal/α-terpineol or linalool).