NZ621287B2 - Murgantiol as a stink bug synergistic attractant for use outdoors - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a composition comprising the Harlequin bug pheromone, murgantiol, in a synergistic combination with at least one other stink bug attractant, such as methyl (2E,4E,6Z)-decatrienoate or methyl (2E,4Z)-decadienoate, or both, for attracting stink bugs such as the brown marmorated stink bug in outdoor settings. Stink bug traps comprising murgantiol, or synergistic compositions comprising murgantiol with at least one other stink bug attractant, and methods of using these compositions in traps outdoors are provided. in outdoor settings. Stink bug traps comprising murgantiol, or synergistic compositions comprising murgantiol with at least one other stink bug attractant, and methods of using these compositions in traps outdoors are provided.

Description

/030393 MURGANTIOL AS A STINK BUG SYNERGISTIC ATTRACTANT FOR USE CROSS—REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of US. Provisional Application No. 61/540,345, filed on September 28, 2011, and US. Patent Application No. 13/410,124, filed on March 1, 2012, incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND Pesticides, such as insecticides, are commonly used in agricultural, industrial, and residential settings to battle destructive, pestiferous, or disease—carrying insects and other animals. Pesticides have achieved cant successes in controlling pestiferous and disease-vector animals, and have increased in their lethality over the years. r, increasingly, the environmental and human health effects of pesticides, as well as their deleterious effects on beneflcial insect species and other animals, have caused users to seek other means for controlling pest populations.

Pentatomoidea is a amily of insects that includes some of the stink bugs and shield bugs. The name "stink bug" derives from their tendency to eject an odiferous defensive substance when disturbed, typically as a form of anti—predator tion. The term "stink bug" is also applied to distantly related species such as Boisea trivittata (Say), the "boxelder bug," and insects such as s in the genus Eleodes such as the pinacate beetle (also known as the stink beetle). Many stink bugs and shield bugs are considered agricultural pest insects, although some are beneficial insects. es of both include the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris; several species of Euschistus spp.; the red—shouldered stink bug, Thyanta pallidovirens; the red—banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii; the green stink bug, Acrosternum hilare; the kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria); the conchuela stink bug, Chlorochroa ligata; Uhler's stink bug, C. uhleri; and Say's stink bug, C. sayi. Some insects can generate large tions that damage crop tion and are resistant to many pesticides. Moreover, they are immune to cally modified crops, such as Bt (bacillus thuringiensis) crops. Over the past 5—10 years, stink bugs and plant bugs have become a serious agricultural pest problem in many parts of the world, especially in the regions with large areas of Bt crops.

As an example, the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stal), native to Asia, is believed to have been accidentally introduced into the United States as early as 1996, likely as stowaways, ly as eggs, on g crates or the like. The BMSB has been ed in a total of 33 states and the District of Columbia according to information provided by the US. Department of Agriculture and the National Agricultural Pest Information System (NAPIS) (http://pest.ceris.purdue.edu). In 2010, the BMSB emerged as a severe pest of fruit and other crops across the region. In addition, this invasive species is a serious nuisance for homeowners and businesses as it overwinters in ntial houses, commercial buildings, and warehouses.

The brown marmorated stink bug can cause widespread damage to , vegetables, and field crops, including peaches, apples, green beans, soybeans, corn, tomatoes, cherries, raspberries, and pears. It is a sucking insect that uses its proboscis to pierce the host plant in order to feed. This feeding may cause necrotic areas on the outer surface of , leaf stippling, cat-facing on tree fruits, seed loss, and transmission of plant pathogens. Frequently, the brown marmorated stink bug survives the winter as an adult by entering structures that shield them from the elements. During the overwintering period, stink bugs are generally less active and normally aggregate in dark spaces for hibernation; however, stink bugs may awaken and move (crawl/walk/fly) around in rooms or other indoor spaces when indoor temperatures are high, especially during late winter and early spring. Such indoor activity creates various inconvenient issues (such as unpleasant smells and other annoying activities) for residents.

Aggregation pheromone compounds have been identified from many species of agriculturally important stink bugs. In 2008, Zahn et al. noted that for all phytophagous pentatomoids for which sex or aggregation pheromones have been identified, the compounds were ed by males. J. Chem. Ecol. 34:238 (2008). Males of Thyanta spp., for example, produce methyl (2E,4Z,6@-decatrienoate r, Tetrahedron Lett. 38:7971 (1997); McBrien et al., J. Chem. Ecol. 28:1797 (2002)) with or without particular sesquiterpenes (Moraes et al., J. Chem. Ecol. 31:1415 (2005)) that attract a mate. I. G. Millar et al. reported gs regarding male—produced pheromone components of several agriculturally important stink bugs, including T. pallidovirens, A. hilare, C. sayi, C. uhleri, and C. ligata. Bull. Int. Org. of Biol. Control, Pheromone Working Group 25:1 (2002). Methyl (2E,4Z)-decadienoate (M24DD) has been fied as an ation pheromone compound or field attractant for seven stus spp.

(Aldrich, et al., n. l. 20:477 (1991)), and has been used for stink bug monitoring programs in agricultural settings. Another methyl ester, methyl (2 E,4 E,6 Z)-decatrienoate (M246DT), was identified as an aggregation pheromone component of the stink bug Plautia stali Scott (Sugie et al., Appl. Entomol. 31:427 (1996)), and as a field attractant for both adults (males and females) and nymphs of the BMSB, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) and A. hilare (Aldrich et al., J. Chem. Ecol. 33:801 (2007)); an, Tetrahedron 61:3651 ).

Recently, a terpene epoxyalcohol, murgantiol (CAS#: 10306304), was identified by Zahn et al., J. Chem. Ecol. 34:238 (2008), as an aggregation pheromone ent of the Harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn), and was recently found by the present inventors as an indoor attractant for BMSBs during their overwintering period indoors (U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/180,281, filed July 11, 2011).

Unfortunately, it is still unknown if the Harlequin bug pheromone, murgantiol, is also attractive to Harlequin stink bugs or BMSBs or other related stink bugs outdoors during the summer mating and g season, or whether it is synergistically active as an attractant outdoors with known stink bug attractants, such as M246DT and M24DD for BMSB or Euschistus spp.

SUMMARY Unless the t clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’ and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say in the sense of “including but not limited to”.

It is an object of the present invention to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composition comprising a synergistic combination of murgantiol and at least one of methyl (2E,4 Z)-decadienoate, methyl (2E,4 E,6 Z)-decatrienoate, any isomers thereof, or any combination thereof.

In order to develop an efficient stink bug trapping system for stink bugs, especially the BMSB, the assignee of the present invention has ly ed an attractant-baited stink bug trap (U.S. Patent ation Serial No. 13/331,394, filed er 20, 2011; U.S. Patent No. D645,534; and U.S. Patent No. D645,535, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and a trap that features an [followed by page 3a] LED light accessory (U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/477,044, filed April 19, 2011, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), plus an indoor attractant for stink bugs (U.S. Patent ation Serial No. 13/180,281, filed July 11, 2011, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The present inventors have tested the Harlequin bug pheromone, murgantiol, as an tant alone and even more importantly in synergism with known stink bug attractants, such as methyl (2E,4 E,6 Z)-decatrienoate (M246DT) and methyl (2E,4 Z)-decadienoate (M24DD) for BMSB or Euschistus spp. during the summer (outdoors) mating and feeding season.

Based on the s, disclosed herein are murgantiol-containing itions (sometimes "compositions") and methods for attracting an insect from the superfamily Pentatomoidea, such as stink bugs and shield bugs, to an r predetermined location, comprising administering to the outdoor predetermined location a composition [followed by page 4] -3a- comprising one or more compounds that attract an insect from the superfamily Pentatomoidea and a synergistic amount of murgantiol, n the composition is active in attracting the insect to the outdoor predetermined location. In one embodiment, the insect can be an adult or nymph stink bug, such as the BMSB. Also provided is a method for attracting an insect from the superfamily Pentatomoidea, such as stink bugs, to an outdoor predetermined location, comprising administering to the outdoor predetermined location a composition comprising an effective amount of murgantiol, wherein murgantiol is active in attracting the insect to the outdoor predetermined location. In one embodiment, the insect can be an adult or nymph stink bug, such as the BMSB.

In addition, itions that may be used in both s are disclosed. Some compositions may include murgantiol as a synergist with other attractants, and some compositions may include murgantiol as the only attractant.

A first composition es one or more compounds that attract an insect from the superfamily Pentatomoidea and a synergistic amount of tiol, wherein the tiol increases attraction of the insect to the composition outdoors.

The first ition may be used to t a shield bug or stink bug.

The first composition may include one or more compounds selected from at least one of methyl (2E,4Z)-decadienoate, methyl (2E,4E,6Z)-decatrienoate, any stereoisomers f, or any combination thereof The first ition may be used to attract a brown marmorated stink bug.

The first composition may include murgantiol (CAS#: 1030630—94—4): 4—[3—(3,3— dimethyloxiran-2—yl)- l -methylpropyl]- l -methylcyclohex-2—en01, any isomer thereof, or any combination of more than one stereoisomer.

The first ition may include a racemic mixture of murgantiol stereoisomers.

The first composition may include one or more 4W8 isomers of murgantiol.

The first composition may include one or more 4S/R isomers of murgantiol.

The first composition may further include an antioxidant, an oil, or any combination thereof A first method of attracting an insect outdoors, includes administering an effective amount of any embodiment of the first composition to an outdoor location, and attracting an insect belonging to the superfamily Pentatomoidea to the outdoor location, n the first composition is active in attracting the insect. In some embodiments, the insect may be a stink bug. In some embodiments, the insect may be a brown marmorated stink bug. 2012/030393 In some embodiments, the insect may be an adult outdoors. In some embodiments, the insect may be a nymph outdoors.

A second composition may include murgantiol in an amount effective to t an insect from the superfamily Pentatomoidea to the composition outdoors.

The second composition may be used to attract a stink bug or shield bug.

The second composition may be used to attract a brown ated stink bug.

The second composition may include only murgantiol as an attractant compound.

The second composition may include murgantiol: 4—[3—(3,3— dimethyloxiran-2—yl)- l -methylpropyl]- l -methylcyclohex-2—en01, any stereoisomer thereof, or any combination of more than one stereoisomer.

The second composition may include a racemic mixture of murgantiol stereoisomers.

The second composition may include one or more 4MS isomers of murgantiol.

The second composition may include one or more 4S/R isomers of murgantiol.

The second composition may further include an antioxidant, an oil, or any ation thereof A second method of attracting an insect outdoors, includes administering an effective amount of any embodiment of the second composition to an outdoor location, and attracting an insect belonging to the superfamily Pentatomoidea to the outdoor on, wherein the second composition is active in attracting the . In some embodiments, the insect may be a stink bug. In some embodiments, the insect may be a brown marmorated stink bug. In some embodiments, the insect may be an adult outdoors. In some embodiments, the insect may be a nymph.

Capturing overwintered insects soon after they leave their overwintering indoor sites, and before their mating and oviposition period, can reduce their early season populations and ze both damage to host plants and late season home invasions.

The methods and compositions disclosed herein are ive to attract and/or trap not only these overwintered adult insects in early summer, but also their juveniles (nymphs) and new generation adults during summer and fall seasons. Such insects can include stink bugs, ing the BMSB, and shield bugs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better tood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an insect trap that may comprise murgantiol or a synergistic composition comprising murgantiol; FIGURE 2 is a bar graph illustrating mean numbers of BMSB adults captured in stink bug traps baited with different doses of c murgantiol (MGT) in comparison with the known standard stink bug attractants (M246DT/M24DD) and a blank control, in Pittsburgh, PA, 14 days in early September [bars with the same letter were not significantly different (P>0.05) by Duncan's multiple-range test after ANOVA on arcsin (12))“2 ormed data; p is the proportion of total captured BMSBs within each replicate]; and FIGURE 3 is a bar graph illustrating mean numbers of BMSB adults captured in stink bug traps baited with known rd stink bug attractants (M246DT/M24DD) and two new types of stink bug attractant formulations, M246DT/24DD-A and M246DT/24DD-B, with or without different doses of racemic MGT in comparison with a blank control, in Pittsburgh, PA, 14 days in early September [bars with the same letter were not significantly different (P>0.05) by Duncan's le-range test after ANOVA on arcsin (12))“2 transformed data; p is the tion of total ed BMSBs within each replicate].

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Aggregation pheromone compounds have been identified from several lturally important stink bugs. For instance, methyl (2E,4Z)-decadienoate (M24DD) has been identified as an aggregation pheromone compound or field attractant for seven Euschistus spp. (Aldrich, et al., n. Entomol. 20:477 (1991)), and has been used for stink bug monitoring programs in agricultural settings. Another methyl ester, methyl (2E,4E,6@-decatrienoate (M246DT), was identified as an aggregation pheromone compound of the stink bug Plantia stali Scott (Sugie et al., Appl. Entomol. 31:427 (1996)) in Japan and, recently as a field attractant for both adults (males and females) and nymphs of the BMSB, Halyomorpha halys (Stal) and A. hilare (Aldrich et al., J. Chem. Ecol. 33:801 (2007)); Khrimian, edron 61:3651 (2005)). Recently, both pheromone attractants have been used together or alone in commercial stink bug traps for monitoring or rapping some stink bug species: stus spp., BMSBs and A. hilare in the United States. In case of the BMSB, M246DT is strongly attractive to both nymphs and 2012/030393 adults during the mid-summer and early fall, but is only weakly active in the late spring and early summer when the sal (overwintered) adults are looking for mates and oviposition sites. Thus, more powerful attractant compositions are needed to efficiently e overwintered BMSB adults before their mating and oviposition in order to reduce their early season populations and minimize both damage to host plants and late season home invasions. The methods and compositions disclosed herein are effective to attract and/or trap not only these overwintered adult insects in early summer, but also their juveniles (nymphs) and new tion adults during summer and fall seasons. Such insects include stink bugs, including the BMSB, and shield bugs.

Recently, a sesquiterpene epoxyalcohol, murgantiol, was fied as an aggregation pheromone compound of the Harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn) (Zahn et al., J. Chem. Ecol. 34:238 (2008)). As reported by Zahn et al., sexually mature male Harlequin bugs produce a sex—specific compound, identified as one of the stereoisomers of the sesquiterpene epoxyalcohol: 4-[3 -(3 ,3 -dimethyloxiranyl)methylpropyl]methylcyclohexen-l-ol (murgantiol). In laboratory bioassays by Zahn et al., insect-produced and synthetic murgantiol attracted sexually mature Harlequin bugs of both sexes, suggesting that murgantiol is a male-produced aggregation pheromone analogous to those found in a number of other phytophagous bug species. No data have yet been reported on potential behavioral activity (attraction) of this compound on Harlequin bugs or other stink bugs in the field. However, murgantiol, the reported pheromone for the Harlequin bug, was recently found to be an indoor tant for stink bugs, such as both sexes of BMSB adults during the overwintering and transition periods (US. Patent Application Serial No. 13/180,281, filed July 11, 2011).

Using recently developed Rescue!® Stink Bug Traps (US. Patent No. D645,534; US. Patent No. D645,535; US. Patent Application Serial No. ,394, filed December 20, 2011; and US. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/477,044, filed April 19, 2011), the present inventors discovered that the Harlequin bug pheromone, murgantiol, is also active as an outdoor attractant for the BMSBs during the summer /oviposition and g season. Further, murgantiol, er with known stink bug attractants such as M246DT and M24DD, was found to synergistically attract BMSB and Euschistus spp. on of murgantiol to known stink bug attractant systems, such as tant—baited stink bug traps, would strengthen the efficacy of these systems for combating stink bug problems, especially ones caused by the BMSB. It is not known if the murgantiol is produced by the BMSB males as part of its aggregation pheromone system or not.

Provided herein are methods for attracting an insect ing to the superfamily Pentatomoidea, and especially stink bugs such as the BMSB, to an outdoor predetermined location, comprising administering to the outdoor predetermined location a composition comprising one or more nds that attract an insect from the superfamily Pentatomoidea and a synergistic amount of murgantiol, wherein the composition is active in attracting the insect to the outdoor predetermined location. In another embodiment, the composition comprises murgantiol as the only attractant ed. In some embodiments, the insect is a stink bug or shield bug. In some embodiments, the insect is an overwintered adult stink bug, a juvenile (nymph), or a new generation adult stink bug, including the BMSB. In some embodiments, the insect is from the genus Euschistus. In some embodiments, the insect is the BMSB. In some embodiments, an attractant composition may comprise M246DT or M24DD, their related stereoisomers, or any combination f, and murgantiol in a synergistic amount that significantly ses the attraction of the insect to the ition. FIGURE 3 illustrates embodiments g a significant increase in attraction as measured by trap catches. For example, a comparison between the first sample with the second and the third sample with the fourth shows that tiol produces significant increases in attraction. In some embodiments, the attractant composition may include only murgantiol in an amount that attracts the insect to the composition. The predetermined location may be a stink bug trap (e.g., an outdoor stink bug trap). Stink bug traps are further described herein. The composition may be comprised in a type of device(s) or dispenser(s) that controllably es the composition. An attractant ition may further comprise an idant or an oil, or a combination thereof, as described herein.

Murgantiol may be obtained synthetically as described by Zahn et al., J. Chem.

Ecol. 34:238 . Murgantiol is a compound with four chiral centers and 16 le stereoisomers. The relative and absolute configurations of the insect—produced compound were not identified by Zahn et al. and are presently unknown, but the structure was reported as follows, with carbon numbering shown: As used herein, "murgantiol" refers to any compoxmd or mixture of nds (isomers) that exhibit the murgantiol skeleton structure noted above. Thus, murgantiol may refer to a single iSOmer, a e of all 16 isomers (racemic murgantiol), or a mixture of any number of these isomers (e.g., a mixture of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, ll, 12, 13, 14, or 15 isomers, or re of at most or at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 14, or 15 isomers). Murgantiol may comprise a racemic mixture of stereoisomers.

Murgantiol may, for example, entail one Or more .Of the more polar isomers, such as the somers (4R/S-IS-7S-l OS-isomer, 4R/S-1R-7S-IOS-isomer, 4R/S-lR-7R-1OS-isomer, R-7R-10R-isomer, 4R/S-IS-7R-10R—isomer, 4R/S-IS-7R-IOS-isomer, 4R/S-IS-7S-lOR-isomer, and the 4R/S-lR-7S-10R-isomer).

Murgantiol may, for example, entail one or more of the less polar isomers, such as the 4S/R-isomers (4S/R-IS-7S-IOS-isomer, 4S/R-1R—7S-lOS-isomer, 4S/R— l R-7R-l OS-isomer, 4S/R-lR~7R-10R—isomer, 4S/R-1 S—7R-10R-isomer, 4S/R-IS—7R—IOS-isomer, 4S/R-IS-7S-IUR-isomer, and the 4S/R-1R-7S—lOR—i50mer).

Murgantiol may entail four isomers, such as the 4R/S-7R/S—isomers (4R/S-7R/S-lR-10R—isomet, 4R/S-7R/S-lR-IOS-isomer, 4R/S-7R/S~IS-IOS-isomer, and the 4R/S-7R/S-lS-lOR-isomer); the 4R/S-7S/R-isomers (4R/S-7S/R—1R—10R—isomer, 4R/S-7S/R—lR—IOS-isomer, S/R-IS-IOS-isomer, and the 4R/S-7S/R-lS-10R-isomer); the R/S-isomers (4S/R-7R/S-lR-10R-isomer, 4S/R—7R/S-lR-lOS-isomer, 4S/R—7R/S-IS-IOS—isomer, and the 4S/R—7R/S-IS-10R-isomer); and the 4S/R-7S/R-isomers (4S/R—7S/R-lR-lOR—isomer, 4S/R-7S/R-1R-l OS-isomer, 4S/R-7S/R-ISisomer, and the 4S/R-7S/R-lS-10R-isomer). In some embodiments, murgantiol is further defined as a mixture of diastereomers of 4—[(l S)- 3-(3 ,3-dimethyloxiranyl)~1 lpropyl]methylcyclohexen—l —ol [(8)- SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) murgantiol; CAS#: 0—97—7]. In some embodiments, murgantiol is r defined as a mixture of diastereomers of 4- [( l R)(3 ,3 -dimethyloxiran-2—yl)— l -methylpropyl]- l -methylcyclohex-2—en01 [(R)- murgantiol].

In some embodiments, a composition comprises an isolated mixture defined as a more polar mixture of murgantiol stereoisomers obtained and separated from a racemic mixture, such as a more polar mixture of murgantiol stereoisomers (MUS—isomers). In some embodiments, a composition ses an isolated mixture defined as a less polar e of murgantiol stereoisomers ed and separated from a racemic mixture, such as a less polar mixture of murgantiol stereoisomers (4S/R-isomers). The "more polar mixture" and the "less polar mixture" can be obtained and separated from a racemic mixture of murgantiol by flash chromatography on silica gel, eluting with 10% ethyl acetate in hexane, with the first fraction being the less polar murgantiol mixture and the later eluting fraction being the more polar murgantiol mixture. Each fraction includes 8 isomers that are inseparable by the flash chromatography. As noted herein, a composition may comprise either the 8 less polar isomers or the 8 more polar isomers. In some embodiments, a composition comprises a racemic mixture of murgantiol stereoisomers (all 16 stereoisomers).

As used herein, an "effective amount" of murgantiol is an amount effective to achieve a d result, such as to attract an insect to an r predetermined location, such as a trap that is outdoors. The effective amount of murgantiol, when used alone or as a synergistic combination with other attractant compositions, may be determined experimentally. For e, both an effective amount, and a synergistic amount of murgantiol can be at least or at most 0.01, 0.1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 mg of murgantiol, and any range derivable therein. While representative amounts have been provided to illustrate ary embodiments, it is believed that any amount of murgantiol will be effective to attract s, and to se the attraction of other known attractants. Murgantiol may be used in a composition as the only attractant compound or in a ition further comprising one or more different attractants, semiochemicals, oils, antioxidants, or other additives, or any combination thereof.

As used herein, a "synergistic amount" of tiol refers to an amount that significantly increases the attraction effects of other attractant compounds.

A first ition includes one or more compounds that attract an insect from the superfamily Pentatomoidea, and a synergistic amount of murgantiol, n the murgantiol significantly increases attraction of the insect to the composition outdoors.

FIGURE 3 rates embodiments g a significant increase in attraction as measured by trap catches. For example, a comparison between the first sample with the second and the third sample with the fourth shows that murgantiol produces significant increases in attraction. The first composition may be used to attract an insect from one species of shield bug or stink bug. The first composition may include tiol in any amount. The first composition may e one or more compounds selected from at least one of methyl (2E,4Z)-decadienoate, methyl (2E,4E,6Z)-decatrienoate, any stereoisomers thereof, or any combination thereof. The first composition may be used to attract a brown marmorated stink bug. The first composition may include murgantiol: 4-[3 -(3 ,3 -dimethyloxiranyl)- l -methylpropyl] - l -methylcyclohex-2—en01, any isomer thereof, or any combination of more than one stereoisomer. The first composition may include a racemic mixture of murgantiol stereoisomers. The first ition may include one or more 4W8 isomers of murgantiol. The first composition may include one or more 4S/R isomers of murgantiol. The first composition may further include an antioxidant, an oil, or any combination thereof.

A first method of attracting an insect outdoors, includes administering an effective amount of any embodiment of the first composition to an outdoor location, and attracting an insect belonging to the superfamily Pentatomoidea to the r location, wherein the first composition is active in attracting the insect. In some embodiments, the insect may be a stink bug. In some embodiments, the insect may be a brown marmorated stink bug.

In some embodiments, the insect may be an overwintered adult during spring or early summer outdoors. In some embodiments, the insect may be a juvenile (nymph) or new generation adult stink bug during summer and fall seasons outdoors.

A second composition may include murgantiol in an amount effective to attract an insect from the superfamily Pentatomoidea to the composition outdoors. FIGURE 2 illustrates ments showing the effectiveness in tion as ed by trap catches. The first through fourth samples used varying amounts of tiol.

FIGURE 2 shows that murgantiol is comparable, if not more effective in attracting insects when compared to the standard M246DT/M24DD. The second composition may be used to attract a stink bug or shield bug. The second ition may be used to attract a brown marmorated stink bug. The second composition can include murgantiol in any amount. The second composition may include only murgantiol as an attractant compound. The second composition may include murgantiol: 4-[3—(3,3- dimethyloxiran-2—yl)- l -methylpropyl]- l -methylcyclohex-2—en01, any stereoisomer thereof, or any combination of more than one stereoisomer. The second composition may include a racemic e of murgantiol stereoisomers. The second composition may include one or more 41VS isomers of murgantiol. The second composition may include one or more 4S/R isomers of murgantiol. The second composition may r e an antioxidant, an oil, or any combination thereof.

A second method of attracting an insect outdoors includes administering an ive amount of any embodiment of the second composition to an outdoor location and attracting an insect belonging to the superfamily Pentatomoidea to the outdoor location, wherein the second composition is active in attracting the insect. In some embodiments, the insect may be a stink bug. In some embodiments, the insect may be a brown marmorated stink bug. In some embodiments, the insect may be an ntered adult during spring or early summer outdoors. In some embodiments, the insect may be a le (nymph) or new generation adult stink bug during summer and fall seasons The compositions may "consist essentially" of a synergistic amount of murgantiol and one or more different attractants, or murgantiol as the only attractant. Such compositions include the specified compounds and those compounds that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the composition. For e, antioxidants, oils, and impurities may be sed in such compositions.

The compositions may "consist" of a synergistic amount of murgantiol and one or more different attractants, or murgantiol as the only attractant. Such itions include only the specified compounds, and exclude all other compounds.

Various additives may be combined with the compositions, including, but not limited to, antioxidants and oils. Suitable antioxidants for use with any of the murgantiol—containing compositions include, but are not limited to, tocopherols, a— tocopherol, ascorbic acid, as well as synthetic antioxidants such as propyl e, tertiary butylhydroquinone, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and butylated yanisole (BHA). BHT or BHA, among other r antioxidant compounds, are soluble in most of the compositions and can react efficiently with oxygen in the dispensing systems, and therefore offer a way to avoid oxidation, breakdown, and polymerization of the itions. One class of idants are lipophilic (fat-soluble) organic compounds that are primarily used as antioxidant food additives.

Suitable antioxidants also e polar idants, such as ic alcohols, flavonoids, catechins, anthocyanins, and their glycosides. The polar phenolics are advantageous for stabilization of polar compounds.

While representative ts have been listed for purposes of illustrating ments of the invention, it is to be appreciated that other antioxidants not specifically listed above may also be used.

Suitable oils to use with murgantiol-containing compositions e, but are not limited to, oils derived from plants such as vegetable oils and nut oils. These are widely available and cost effective. Suitable oils include, but are not limited to, canola oil, cottonseed oil, palm oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, olive oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, nut oils, and coconut oils, among many others. Nut oils include, but are not limited to, almond oil, cashew oil, hazelnut oil, macadamia oil, mongongo nut oil, pecan oil, pine nut oil, pistachio oil, sacha inchi oil, and walnut oil, plus many others. Melon and gourd seed oils are very common and inexpensive. The oils listed above include saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids that are soluble in many compositions, especially the less polar or non-polar ones.

While entative oils have been listed for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the invention, it is to be appreciated that other oils not specifically listed above may also be used.

The oils and antioxidants can be combined with murgantiol and other attractants for stabilizing murgantiol and the attractants t oxidation or for controlling the release rate from a dispenser.

Insects in the Pentatomoidea superfamily include stink bugs and shield bugs.

Stink bugs are in the Pentatomidae family. Any one or more of insects from the superfamily Pentatomoidea might be attracted to the sed compositions.

Particularly, any one or more stink bugs disclosed herein may be attracted to a murgantiol-containing composition. A variety of stink bugs are known in the art.

Non-limiting examples of stink bugs include the green stink bug (Acrosternum hilare (Say)); several species of Euschistus spp. such as the brown stink bug (Euschistus servus (Say)), E. gmus, E. conspersus, E. variolarius, E. politus, or E. heros; the southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula (L.)); the eastern green stink bug (Nezara antennata); the spined soldier bug (Podisus maculiventris); the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys); the red—shouldered stink bug (Thyanta ovirens); the globular stink bug (Megacopta punctatissimum); the white—spotted stink bug coris ventralis); the fruit—piercing stink bug (Glaucias subpunctatus); the red—banded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii; the red—striped stink bug (Graphosoma rubrolineatum); the East Asian stink bug (Halyomorpha mista); the rice stink bug (Lagynotomus elongates, s pugnax); the two—spotted stink bug (Perillus bioculatus); the conchuela stink bug (Chlorochroa ligata); Uhler's stink bug (Chlorochroa i); Say's stink bug (Chlorochroa sayi); the brown—winged green stink bug (Plautia stali (Scott)); the boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata (Say)); Banasa dimidiata (Say); B. calva (Say); B. euchlora Stal; the kudzu bug opta cribraria); and the Harlequin bug (Murgantia histrionica).

Compositions comprising a synergistic amount of murgantiol with other attractants and compositions that include murgantiol as the only attractant may be used to t nymphs and both sexes of adult stink bugs. In some embodiments, the stink bug is the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB).

Populations of BMSBs can cause widespread damage to fruits, vegetables, and field crops including s, , green beans, soybeans, corn, tomatoes, cherries, raspberries, and pears. The BMSB is a sucking insect that uses its proboscis to pierce the host plant in order to feed. This feeding may cause necrotic areas on the outer surface of , leaf stippling, cat-facing on tree fruits, seed loss, and transmission of plant pathogens. Frequently, BMSBs survive the winter indoors as adults by entering structures that shield them from the elements. Initially, they may go inside a structure, such as a house, to ate, but then become more animated due to the warmth of the structure. Adults typically begin overwintering at the end of September or early October and become a nuisance as large numbers congregate and invade buildings in search of ntering sites. The indoor period is followed by an outdoor period. It is during the outdoor period that stink bugs, such as the BMSB, will feed and/or look for water/food and ition sites. It is during the outdoor period that the disclosed compositions are effective in controlling the s by attracting the insects to the compositions, and particularly when the compositions are used in combination with traps.

The murgantiol-containing compositions may be ed in any trap suitable for stink bug trapping outdoors when the stink bugs are experiencing their outdoor period.

"Outdoors" includes any on where stink bugs in their "outdoor" period may be found, such as, but not limited to, fences, decks, vegetable s, fruit trees, ornamental trees, orchards, nurseries, agricultural crop f1e1ds, gardens, etc.

In some embodiments, an outdoor stink bug trap includes one or more dispensers for holding and releasing compositions comprising murgantiol with one or more ent stink bug attractants, such as M246DT and/or M24DD, or murgantiol alone.

Non—limiting examples of stink bug traps are described in US. Patent No. D645,534; US. Patent No. D645,535; US. Patent Application No. 13/331,394, filed December 20, 2011; US. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/477,044, filed April 19, 2011, and US.

Patent No. 7,150,125, as well as Florida traps (see, e.g., Mizell and Tedders, Proc.

Southeast Pecan Growers Assoc. 90:52 (1990)), wherein each reference is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

A non-limiting example of a stink bug trap is shown in FIGURE 1. FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an insect trap 100 particularly suited for capturing insects, such as stink bugs 90, for example, brown marmorated stink bugs.

The trap 100 comprises an upper ment r 102, which in this embodiment is a generally cylindrical member that is open at a bottom end and closed at a top end. However, it will be readily apparent that the entrapment chamber may be alternatively . The top end may optionally include a nib 108 to facilitate securing the trap 100 at a desired outdoor location. The entrapment chamber 102 may be formed from a transparent or translucent material to permit light to enter the ment r.

It is also plated that the color of the entrapment chamber 102 will preferably be selected to attract the target species of insect. For example, it is known that the BMSB may be particularly attracted to green or blue, or other dark colors, and this information may be ted when constructing traps.

An inner cone 110 is disposed in the entrapment chamber 102. The cone 110 tapers from a large opening at the bottom end disposed near the entrapment chamber bottom end to a small opening at the top end disposed inside the entrapment chamber 102. A collar 120 is attached over a top end of the cone 110. The collar 120 in this embodiment includes a hemispherical upper portion 122 with a top edge that s the cone 110 at a solid surface thereon and a lower edge 124 that extends away from the cone 110. Preferably, the surface of the hemispherical upper portion 122 is provided with a slippery or non-stick surface to facilitate the target insects 90 falling to the bottom of the entrapment chamber 102 and to prevent insects 90 from crawling back out of the trap 100. For example, the upper portion 122 may include a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene powder (e.g., with a particle size of 0.1 to 3.0 s) such as that marketed under the trade names Teflon® or Fluon®.

A lower base portion 130 of the trap 100 includes an annular lid 140 that is releasably attached to the entrapment chamber 102 and a vane assembly 160 assembled from a plurality of panels or vanes 162 (three shown) that extend downwardly from the r lid 140. The annular lid 140 allows the insects 90 to enter the bottom end of the cone 110.

As illustrated in phantom in FIGURE 1, one or more packets 92 ning the attractant compositions are enclosed within the entrapment chamber 102, on the exterior of the cone 110, the purpose of which is to entice the insects 90 to crawl up through the interior of the cone 110 and exit the open top end of the cone 110. The attractant compositions disposed in the trap are typically packaged, formulated, or otherwise adapted to e gradually over time. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, the compositions are containerized in a polymer package, although other controlled e dispensers or devices may atively be used.

The compositions may be murgantiol alone or a murgantiol-containing istic composition, as described herein. More generally, the compositions may, for example, be disposed within the entrapment chamber 102, such as in a controlled release dispenser or device, between the cone 110 and the wall of the cylinder.

The trap 100 includes vanes 162 that are designed with particular features to take advantage of the stink bug's 90 behavioral tendencies. Stink bugs 90, for example, tend to alight on a surface such as the ground and to climb. For example, they may ch and even strike a vane 162 causing them to land at the base of the vane 162. The vanes 162 are designed to age the insect 90 to climb the vane 162 and to enter the entrapment chamber 102.

The vane assembly 160 may include three vanes 162, each curved in ntal cross section to provide a more natural and organic shape that will be more inviting to the insect 90. For example, the vanes 162 may each be curved about a al axis. The vanes 162 may e a center portion 164 that is substantially planar, an inner WO 48563 portion 163 extending radially inward from the center portion 164, and an outer portion 165 extending radially outward from the center portion 163, n the inner and outer portions 163, 165 are curved in horizontal cross section.

The vanes 162 are further provided with surface features that encourage and facilitate climbing. For example, the center portions 164 are provided with a plurality of apertures that extend along the length of the vane 162 from top to bottom. The apertures facilitate climbing by providing a perch for the insects 90 and also permit air and light to ate, again providing a more organic-mimicking environment to encourage continued climbing. The inner portion 163 and outer portion 165 of each vane 162 further include a ity of surface ridges 167 that extend generally radially from the center portion 164 to the inner and outer edges of the vane 162. The ridges 167 generally mimic a leaf vein structure and further facilitate climbing the vane 162 and gently encourage the insects 90 toward the center portion 164. The outer edge of each vane 162 is further provided with a flange 168 perpendicular to the vane 162, such that climbing insects 90 are directed upwardly. When an insect 90 reaches the top of the vane assembly, the insect 90 may pass through the annular lid 140 and into the bottom interior of the cone 110.

Optionally, the vanes 162 may further comprise means for fixing the trap 100 at a particular location. For e, apertures 159 in the lower outside comers of each vane 162 may be provided with a string, cable, tie wrap, or the like (not shown) that can be secured to a fixed object, such as a portion of a tree, a pipe, etc.

It is to be understood that the trap 100 of FIGURE 1 is only exemplary and not limiting.

It is contemplated that any ment discussed in this specification can be implemented with respect to any method(s) and composition(s) described, and vice versa.

Furthermore, compounds and compositions of the ion can be used to achieve methods. er, in any ment herein, one or more ts or compounds may be omitted, substituted for another element or compound, or combined with additional elements or compounds. For example, any murgantiol-containing ition, including synergistic compositions, may be employed with any method or trap disclosed herein.

WO 48563 The use of the term "or" in the claims is used to mean "and/or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a ion that refers to only alternatives and "and/or." The use of the word "a" or "an" when used in ction with the term "comprising" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one," but it is also consistent with the meaning of "one or more, it u at least one," and "one or more than one." EXAMPLES Outdoor Behavioral Response of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs to the Harleguin Bug Pheromone, tiol, Alone and With Other Stink Bug one Attractants Two field trapping experiments were carried out from early to late September in home gardens/yards in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In order to test the potential activity of the Harlequin bug pheromone, murgantiol, as a BMSB outdoor attractant or outdoor synergistic attractant to other known stink bug attractants, commercially available Rescue!® Stink Bug Traps (described in US. Patent No. 34; US. Patent No. D645,535; and US. Patent Application No. 13/331,394, filed December 20, 2011) were used. Traps baited with different tested compounds or combinations were set up in lines, 1—1.5 m above the ground on either tree branches or fences ca. 3—5 m apart between each trap within a set, and at least 50 m between sets. For each trapping experiment, five sets of traps (i.e., five physical replicates of each treatment) were deployed with their initial trap positions within each set being randomized. To ze positional effects and obtain more replications, stink bug collections and trap re-randomizations were carried out when 2 20 stink bugs were caught in the best traps. Each replicate lasted one to several days depending on stink bug activity. Captured stink bugs were removed from the traps and kept in plastic (polyethylene) gs before returning to the laboratory for recording of the species, gender, and development status (nymphs, adult males/females), and catch. Murgantiol and the known stink bug attractants were released from dispensers [for example, 4mil hylene bags (2.3 x5.5 cm) or dispensers described in US. Patent Application No. 13/206,244, filed August 9, 2011, orated herein by reference in its entirety].

Experiment 1 (Example I) tested different doses of c murgantiol (MGT) in comparison with the known standard stink bug attractants [M246DT/M24DD], and the blank control.

Experiment 2 (Example 2) tested two new types of stink bug attractant formulations [M246DT/M24DD-A and M246DT/M24DD-B], with and without the racemic murgantiol (MGT-A, and MGT-B) as a potential synergist, in comparison with the known standard stink bug attractants [M246DT/M24DD], and the blank control.

Racemic murgantiol was synthesized based on the methods described by Zahn et al., J. Chem. Ecol. 34:238 (2008). The following scheme es the method starting from ellal to prepare a racemic mixture of stereoisomers: O O CH3ONa, CH3OH H Piperidine, HCHO H Methyl acetoacetate AcOH, reflux Reflux O 1 2 3 MeLi, Et2O m-CPBA, H2O NaHCO3 OH 4 5 Trap catch data were converted to proportion (P) of total captured bugs within each replicate. The data were then transformed by arcsin (P)1/2 to meet the assumptions of normality and homogeneity of variances for ANOVA (analysis of variance). Means were compared by ANOVA ed by the Duncan's multiplerange test at a = 0.05.

As shown in FIGURE 2 (Example 1), the known standard stink bug attractants (M246DT/M24DD: 50mg/100mg) showed significant attraction to the BMSB adults.

Progressively higher doses of racemic murgantiol (MGT), ated as MGT-A (10mg), MGT-B (20mg), MGT-C , and MGT-D (80mg), also showed strong attraction to BMSBs at levels similar or even higher than the known standard stink bug attractants (M246DT/M24DD: 50mg/100mg). There were no icant dose-response effects of c murgantiol; and the minimum dose (MGT-A: 10mg) was as effective as the highest dose (MGT-D: 80mg) in trap catches. Thus, murgantiol alone is an r attractant for BMSBs in any dose amount. Both sexes of adults (ca. 1:1) and nymphs were attracted and captured in traps baited with either murgantiol (MGT) or M246DT/M24DD.

During this time, the number of nymphs captured was only 5% of total catches.

As shown in FIGURE 3 le 2), the two new types of stink bug attractant formulations (M246DT/M24DD-A: 65mg/100mg; and M246DT/M24DD-B: 30mg/30mg) showed significant attractions to BMSBs at the same level as the known standard stink bug tant formulation T/M24DD: 50mg/100mg). However, the addition of tiol-B (MGT-B: 20mg) to M246DT/M24DD-A (65mg/100mg) and murgantiol-A (MGT-A: 10 mg) to M246DT/M24DD-B (30mg/30mg) drastically increased trap catches of BMSBs in a synergistic fashion. This result indicated that murgantiol can significantly se the effectiveness of the known stink bug attractants, M246DT or M24DD, or a combination thereof, and exhibit strong istic effects. Both sexes of adults (ca. 1:1) and nymphs were attracted and captured in traps baited with both murgantiol (MGT) and M246DT/M24DD or M246DT/M24DD. During this time, the number of nymphs captured was only 5% of total catches.

It is noted that while these experiments took place in September, it is expected that the results observed will be similar for the time s of late spring, summer, and late fall.

While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. A composition, comprising: a synergistic combination of murgantiol and at least one of methyl 5 (2 E,4 Z)-decadienoate, methyl (2E,4 E,6 Z)-decatrienoate, any stereoisomers thereof, or any combination thereof.

2. The composition of Claim 1, further comprising an antioxidant, an oil, or any combination thereof.

3. The composition of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the composition is a 10 brown marmorated stink bug tant.

4. The composition of any one of Claims 1-3, comprising murgantiol and methyl (2E,4Z)-decadienoate or any stereoisomers thereof.

5. The composition of any one of Claims 1-3, comprising murgantiol and methyl (2E,4Z)-decadienoate. 15

6. The composition of any one of Claims 1-3, comprising murgantiol and methyl (2E,4E,6Z)-decatrienoate or any stereoisomers thereof.

7. The composition of any one of Claims 1-3, comprising murgantiol and methyl (2E,4E,6Z)-decatrienoate.

8. The composition of any one of Claims 1-3, comprising murgantiol, methyl 20 (2E,4Z)-decadienoate, and methyl (2E,4E,6Z)-decatrienoate.

9. A method of ting a brown ated stink bug, comprising: providing a trap comprising a composition according to any one of Claims 1, 2, or 4-8; and attracting the brown marmorated stink bug to the trap. 25

10. The method of Claim 9, wherein the brown marmorated stink bug is an adult brown marmorated stink bug.

11. The method of Claim 9, wherein the brown marmorated stink bug is a nymph brown ated stink bug.

12. The method of Claim 9, further comprising trapping the brown 30 marmorated stink bug.

13. A method of attracting a brown marmorated stink bug, comprising: providing an effective amount of the composition according to any one of Claims 1, 2, or 4-8 to a ermined location; and attracting the brown ated stink bug to the predetermined location.

14. The method of Claim 13, wherein the brown marmorated stink bug is an 5 adult brown marmorated stink bug.

15. The method of Claim 13, wherein the brown marmorated stink bug is a nymph brown marmorated stink bug.

16. The method of Claim 13, further comprising trapping the brown marmorated stink bug. 10

17. The method of Claim 13, wherein the ermined location comprises crop fields, fences, decks, gardens, fruit trees, ornamental trees, orchards, or nurseries.

18. The composition of Claim 1, substantially as herein described.

19. The method of Claim 9 or 13, substantially as herein described.

20. The ition of any one of claims 1 to 8, substantially as herein 15 described with reference to any one of the Examples and/or