Résumé
Eurytoma amygdali Enderlein, the almond wasp, is an important pest in almond orchards in southeastern France. To develop a biocontrol strategy against wasp infestations, we studied the emission of volatiles emitted by almond trees and their detection by adult almond wasps. Our approach consists in identifying and quantifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by almond trees at different phenological stages using headspace technique combined with GC-MS (Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry) and PTR-ToF-MS (proton transfer reaction - time of flight - mass spectrometry). These VOCs are then tested by electroantennography (EAG) to measure their detection by the female antennae. The attractiveness for females of the best detected VOCs, tested first alone and then in simple mixtures, is currently evaluated in linear olfactometers to develop a kairomone trap.