Spruce budworm biological and nutritional performance responses to varying levels of monoterpenes

Dose effect of six monoterpenes (α-pinene, bornyl acetate, camphene, δ-3-carene, terpinolene, tricyclene) found in the foliage of host trees was tested on sixth-instar spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)) using artificial diet. The larval mortality, growth and food utilization have been observed. Two monoterpenes, α-pinene and δ-3-carene caused 22 and 12% mortality respectively at concentrations found in balsam fir foliage. Bornyl acetate and camphene reduced larval survival when their concentration was higher than the foliage. Terpinolene and tricyclene have no effect on mortality. All six tested monoterpenes reduced larval growth rate. Spruce budworm tried to minimize this negative growth impact by increasing his digestibility in presence of camphene and δ-3-carene, and by increasing his efficiency of conversion of ingested-digested food with α-pinene and bornyl acetate. These results support the traditional theory that monoterpenes are a defense agent against spruce budworm and that each monoterpene has a different mode of action and effects which are not necessarily proportional to its concentration.