Turpentine

Abstract: Responses of seven species of pine-infesting beetles to traps baited with either turpentine, ethanol, turpentine and ethanol released from separate dispensers, or a 1:1 solution of turpentine and ethanol released from one dispenser were assessed in three field experiments. The weevil species, Pachylobius picivorus (Germar), and the cerambycid pine sawyer, Monochamus carolinensis (Olivier), were attracted to turpentine and were unaffected by the addition of ethanol. The ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff, responded to ethanol alone but was not attracted to turpentine, nor did the presence of turpentine significantly affect its response to ethanol. The remaining four species displayed responses to turpentine that were enhanced by the addition of ethanol, but in different ways according to the method of deployment. Hylobius pales (Herbst) weevils and M. titillator (F.) sawyers displayed greatest attraction to turpentine and ethanol whether they were released from side-by-side dispensers or as a solution from one dispenser. The black turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus terebrans (Olivier), displayed the highest response to turpentine and ethanol in solution. The ambrosia beetle, X. pubescens Zimmermann, responded in low numbers to turpentine or ethanol deployed singly, but displayed an enhanced response (20-fold increase) to turpentine and ethanol deployed side-by-side and an even greater response (60-fold increase) to a solution of turpentine and ethanol. Reasons for increased responses by some species to a solution of turpentine and ethanol over the two released separately are not clear; they may lie in different dosages or evaporation rates of volatiles in the field. Laboratory analyses of trapped headspace volatiles from dispensers containing only turpentine and those containing a solution of turpentine and ethanol revealed no differences in the amounts of four principal monoterpene hydrocarbons (α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, and limonene) released over time. The synergistic effect of turpentine and ethanol for some species and not others may point to ecological differences between species with regard to the condition of preferred host material.

Abstract: Traps baited with gum turpentine of southern pines and deployed in north Florida from 1980–1983 captured numerous adults of the black turpentine beetle (BTB), Dendroctonus terebrans (Olivier); pales weevil, Hylobius pales (Herbst); pitch-eating weevil, Pachylobius picivorus (Germar); Carolina pine sawyer, Monochamus carolinensis (Olivier); southern pine sawyer, M. titillator (F.); and southern pine engraver beetles, Ips spp. Ethanol had a synergistic effect when mixed with turpentine as a bait for the BTB, pales weevil, pitch-eating weevil, and sawyers. Maximum numbers of insects were captured by traps with black columns equipped with wick-type bait dispensers that released relatively large volumes of a mixture of turpentine and ethanol. Peak captures of the BTB occurred shortly after sunset on overcast days when windspeeds were less than 0.8 km/h. BTB, weevils, and sawyers were captured by traps during all but the coldest months of the year. Numbers of insects captured fluctuated throughout the year but there were from two to three distinct peak flight periods.

Abstract: Along with sulfate turpentine, the essential oils obtained by steam distillation from nine plant species naturally grown in Turkish forests were tested at three different concentrations to evaluate their effectiveness against the larvae of pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff). The results indicated that the essential oils from the nine species and sulfate turpentine were effective against the larvae of T pityocampa. The most effective essential oil in the control of the larvae was steam-distilled wood turpentine, followed by thyme herb oil, juniper berry oil, laurel leaf oil, lavender flower oil, eucalyptus leaf oil, lavender leaf oil, cypress berry oil, essential oil of styrax and sulfate turpentine, respectively, in terms of mean mortality time. It is therefore feasible to use these essential oils as environment-friendly insecticides in the control of T pityocampa.