Before weed biocontrol insects are transported and released in a new area, they are commonly collected into small paper containers, chilled, and kept under dark conditions. This process can be termed a pre-release protocol. The influence of a pre-release protocol on establishment success of a gregarious biological control agent was assessed using the northern tamarisk beetle, Diorhabda carinulata (Desbrochers), and its exotic, invasive host plant saltcedar (Tamarix spp.). Pre-release protocol impacts on aggregation pheromone production by D. carinulata were characterized under controlled conditions. Additional experiments were undertaken to determine if deployment of aggregation pheromone lures might enhance the agent’s persistence at release sites. Adults that experienced the pre-release protocol produced less aggregation pheromone compared to undisturbed adults. Olfactometer bioassays indicated that a cohort of adults subjected to the pre-release protocol were less attractive to other adults than a control cohort. Efficacy of aggregation pheromone-based lures to retain adults at release sites was evaluated by comparing capture numbers of adult beetles at paired treatment and control release sites, 10–14 days after the release of 300, 500, or 1000 individuals. A greater number of adult D. carinulata were captured where the pheromone lures had been deployed compared to control release sites. Application of aggregation pheromone when a new release of D. carinulata is planned should allow biological control practitioners to increase retention of beetles at a release site.

中文翻译：

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建立Diorhabda carinulata：释放干扰对信息素排放的影响以及信息素诱饵对建立的影响。

在将杂草生物防治昆虫运输并释放到新区域之前，通常将它们收集到小纸容器中，进行冷藏，然后置于黑暗条件下。此过程可以称为预发布协议。使用北部柳甲虫Diorhabda carinulata（Desbrochers）及其外来侵入性寄主植物Saltcedar（Tamarix spp。）评估了预释放方案对群居生物防治剂建立成功的影响。预发布协议对D. carinulata产生的聚集信息素产生影响在受控条件下进行表征。进行了其他实验，以确定聚集信息素诱饵的部署是否可以增强制剂在释放部位的持久性。与未受干扰的成年人相比，经历了预发布协议的成年人产生的聚集信息素更少。嗅觉仪生物测定法表明，接受预释放方案治疗的成年人群对其他成年人的吸引力不如对照组。通过比较300、500或1000个个体释放后10-14天，成对的甲虫在成对的处理和对照释放位点的捕获数量，评估了基于聚集信息素的诱饵将其保留在释放位点的功效。成人D. carinulata的数量更多与控制释放位点相比，捕获了信息素诱饵所在的地方。当计划将新的D. carinulata释放时，应用聚集信息素应使生物学控制从业人员能够增加甲虫在释放部位的保留。