Host plant evaluation behaviour of Bemisia tabaci and its modification by external or internal uptake of imidacloprid

The behaviour of adult Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) was observed on leaves of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., to study the process of host plant evaluation. Seven distinct behavioural elements were identified and recorded for a period of 20 min after initial contact with leaves. The behaviour of the whiteflies was observed on untreated leaves or on leaves treated with either foliar or systemically applied imidacloprid. Thus, contact with imidacloprid by whiteflies was either via the external cuticle or by ingestion, allowing determination of the effect of uptake route on host evaluation behaviour. Analysis of behavioural sequences and comparison of latencies, frequencies and durations of elements of behaviour between treatments revealed that host evaluation behaviour was similar on untreated and foliar treated leaves, but markedly different on those treated systemically. After their first probe, whiteflies on systemically treated leaves were much more active, spending significantly greater time walking and dabbing the labium tip onto the leaf surface. There was also a 50% reduction in the total time spent probing into systemically treated leaves, compared to the other treatments. This effect was the result of a shorter mean probe duration, and no effect of treatment was found on the frequency of probing. Pre-oviposition behaviour was significantly more common on the systemically treated leaves, although the number of eggs laid was similar on all treatments. These results also show that the host evaluation phase of adult female B. tabaci was dominated by probing. The behavioural sequence that leads to probing was affected significantly by imidacloprid when ingested, but not by direct contact with this compound on the leaf surface. The wider implications for the mechanisms of whitefly–host plant interactions are discussed.     

Impact of azadirachtin on vine weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) reproduction

Abstract 1 The dose–response of azadirachtin on vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius), reproduction is investigated by confining adults to feed on treated Taxus × media leaves, and by counting and evaluating development in the resulting eggs. 2 A dosage‐dependent reduction in oviposition is discovered for foliar surface residues of azadirachtin, with an EC₅₀ of 25–50 parts per million (p.p.m) and 99.2% inhibition of viable egg production with 100 p.p.m. 3 Switching weevils from treated to untreated foliage allows reproductive capability to be restored for weevils that cease egg laying after azadirachtin exposure of 50 p.p.m. Weevils that had already started laying eggs in untreated groups soon cease oviposition once switched to azadirachtin‐treated foliage. 4 A transovarial effect results in a decrease in the percentage of viable eggs as the azadirachtin concentration increases. 5 The amount of feeding on foliage does not appreciably decrease at these hormonally effective concentrations, and adult weevil mortality is only slightly greater in the azadirachtin‐treated groups. Therefore, the overall effect of azadirachtin on weevil populations in the field is difficult to assess, except by collecting weevils to determine whether they are able to lay viable eggs.     

Experience-induced preference for oviposition repellents derived from a non-host plant by a specialist herbivore

Foraging adults of phytophagous insects are attracted by host‐plant volatiles and supposedly repelled by volatiles from non‐host plants. In behavioural control of pest insects, chemicals derived from non‐host plants applied to crops are expected to repel searching adults and thereby reduce egg laying. How experience by searching adults of non‐host volatiles affects their subsequent searching and oviposition behaviour has been rarely tested. In laboratory experiments, we examined the effect of experience of a non‐host‐plant extract on the oviposition behaviour of the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, a specialist herbivore of cruciferous plants. Naive ovipositing DBM females were repelled by an extract of dried leaves of Chrysanthemum morifolium, a non‐host plant of DBM, but experienced females were not repelled. Instead they were attracted by host plants treated with the non‐host‐plant extract and laid a higher proportion of eggs on treated than on untreated host plants. Such behavioural changes induced by experience could lead to host‐plant range expansion in phytophagous insects and play an important role in determining outcome for pest management of some behavioural manipulation methods.     

Species‐specific elicitors induce tea leaf to arrest the endoparasitoid Ascogaster reticulata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Ascogaster reticulata Watanabe (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an egg‐larval endoparasitoid of the smaller tea tortrix, Adoxophyes honmai Yasuda. Recent studies have examined tritrophic interactions among Camellia sinensis, A. honmai and A. reticulata, but the effect of non‐host insects on the induction of tea plant that may affect foraging behaviour of A. reticulata remains unclear. In this study, we selected two non‐host insects, Homona magnanima Diakonoff and Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), as representative species in our bioassays. Tea leaves were treated with homogenized female reproductive tissues of a non‐host insect in comparison with untreated leaves in a choice test. Residence times of parasitoids on both leaves were recorded. The parasitoids seemed to prefer walking on leaves treated with homogenates of H. magnanima over untreated leaves, but the difference in residence times was not significant. In contrast, its residence time on leaves treated with homogenates of O. furnacalis was significantly shorter than that on untreated leaves. Thus, the induction of tea leaf surface chemicals may differ among moth species, which may produce different types of elicitors. This difference may, in turn, affect the host‐searching behaviour of A. reticulata.     

喷施吲哚-3-乙酸 (IAA) 对番茄及其上B型烟粉虱的影响

【目的】不同植物生长调节物质对植食性昆虫产卵、发育、取食等常有促进或抑制作用,进而影响植物与昆虫的互作关系。本研究旨在阐明常用的植物生长调节剂吲哚-3-乙酸对B型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)的影响,进而探索防治烟粉虱环境友好的方法,同时期望获得更加优质的烟粉虱用作替代寄主饲养寄生蜂。【方法】对番茄 Solanum lycopersicum L.植株外源喷施吲哚-3-乙酸(IAA),检测其生理生化的响应;记录B型烟粉虱存活率、产卵量并测量解毒酶等指标。【结果】喷施IAA后番茄叶片含水量略有上升,叶面积增大,叶绿素含量增加,过氧化物酶(POD)活性降低,多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性升高,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性变化不显著(P＞0.05)。喷施IAA后番茄上B型烟粉虱成虫存活率高于对照组,其中50 mg/L IAA番茄上B型烟粉虱成虫存活率和总产卵量最高,250 mg/L IAA存活率最低;喷施IAA 120 h后烟粉虱总产卵量升高;碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性较对照升高。【结论】喷施不同浓度的IAA溶液后,番茄植株的生理生化水平发生不同程度的改变,烟粉虱成虫的存活状况、产卵量以及体内解毒活性也会产生不同程度的改变。适宜剂量的IAA处理能够使烟粉虱的生存表现更加优异,从而为饲养寄生蜂提供优质的替代寄主。     

Asymmetric plant-mediated cross-effects between a herbivorous insect and a phytopathogenic fungus

• 1 Cross‐effects between a herbivorous insect and a phytopathogenic fungus on their common host plant were examined. Specifically, we addressed the questions whether (i) infection of Chinese cabbage leaves by the fungus Alternaria brassicae affects the development and host selection behaviour of the leaf beetle Phaedon cochleariae and (ii) whether herbivory influences host suitability of Chinese cabbage for A. brassicae.
• 2 Feeding on fungus‐infected leaves prolonged larval development and reduced pupal weight of P. cochleariae. Adult beetles avoided feeding and egg deposition on fungus‐infected leaves. In contrast to these local effects, no systemic effect of phytopathogenic infection on the herbivore was detected.
• 3 Herbivory did not influence fungal growth neither locally nor systemically.
• 4 Thus, our results demonstrate an asymmetric relationship between herbivore and fungus. Whereas herbivory had no visible impact on fungal growth, fungal infection of the plant induced local resistance against P. cochleariae.

     

Stimulating effect of sugar dusting on honey bee grooming behaviour

The aim of this research was to investigate whether or not sugar dusting can stimulate the grooming behaviour in Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), an important defensive mechanism against Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Acari: Varroidae), and to assess the most effective dose and frequency of treatment. The criterion for evaluation of grooming potential was the percentage of damaged mites (PDM) among the total number collected on the bottom boards of the hives. In each sugar‐treated group PDM was significantly higher in comparison both with the negative control (no treatment) and with the values preceding the treatment. The results point to a stimulating effect of sugar on the grooming behaviour at all doses and frequencies tested. Treatment frequency influenced the stimulating effect of sugar: treatments at 3‐ and 7‐day intervals with 30 and 40 g resulted in significantly higher PDMs than the least frequent treatment (every 14 days); dusting with 20 g influenced PDM only when repeated at 3‐day intervals. Because treatments at 3‐day intervals are time‐consuming, those with 40 or 30 g repeated every 7 days may be recommended. In the positive control (hives treated with amitraz), average PDM was significantly lower than in the negative control and all sugar‐treated groups. Possible causes of the stimulating effect of sugar dusting on bee grooming behaviour are discussed.     

Systemic antifeedant effects of azadirachtin on the peach-potato aphidMyzus persicae

The electrical penetration graph (EPG) method was used to analyse the feeding behaviour of apterous, adultMyzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) onNicotiana clevelandii (Gray) seedlings, treated systemically with azadirachtin. A preliminary experiment showed that the effects of tethering aphids for EPG recording were minimal. The percentage of the 9 h recording period devoted to non-penetration activities, and to stylet pathway patterns increased as the azadirachtin concentration in the root treatment increased. The number of probes initiated, and the numbers of sieve tube penetrations also increased with increased azadirachtin concentration. The mean time elapsing between the initiation of the first probe to reach a sieve element and contact with this tissue was not significantly altered by azadirachtin treatment. However, azadirachtin treatment significantly reduced the percentage of probes that reached sieve elements and increased non-penetration activity before and after the first perid of ingestion from the sieve elements. The percentage of the recording period spent in the EPG pattern associated with sieve tube penetration was significantly reduced by an azadirachtin concentration of 300 ppm, and the duration of each individual penetration was significantly reduced by an azadirachtin concentration of 100 ppm. When the total EPG was split into 3 h periods, significant interactions were seen between time period and azadirachtin concentration for the duration of non-penetration, pathway, and sieve tube penetration patterns.     

The influence of azadirachtin on the feeding behaviour of cereal aphids and slugs

The probing behaviour of Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) and Sitobion avenae (F.) and the feeding behaviour of several slug species, (Deroceras reticulatum (Müller), Arion distinctus Mabille, Agriolimax caruanae Pollonera, Maximus sp.) were assessed on seedlings of winter barley (Hordeum marinum) treated with different concentrations of azadirachtin. Settling behaviour of both aphid species was strongly biased towards the untreated seedlings or those treated with low concentrations of azadirachtin. Concentrations of <500 ppm were effective with topical application and probing activity was reduced for at least 4 days after application. Systemic activity of azadirachtin against cereal aphids was also demonstrated. Feeding behaviour of the slug species, as seen by the amount of leaf eaten compared to the controls, was not affected by the presence of azadirachtin at those concentrations which deterred aphids from feeding. The relevance of these results to crop protection is discussed.     

Relationships between parasitism,bumblebee foraging behaviour,and pollination service to Trifolium pratense flowers

1. Parasite effects on host behaviour frequently alter their hosts' trophic interactions. There are many compelling examples of such effects in herbivore‐based trophic interactions, but less attention has been paid to how parasite effects on host behaviour can alter mutualistic interactions. 2. Pollination mutualisms depend greatly on pollinator behaviour, and many pollinators are attacked by a wide range of parasites and parasitoids. 3. To investigate whether parasites affect pollination service via changes in host behaviour, natural variation in conopid fly parasitism was used to investigate the relationship between infection and Bombus impatiens Cresson behaviour foraging on arrays of Trifolium pretense L. flowers in the laboratory. The consequences of infection for seed set and seed mass were also examined. 4. Conopid parasitism was not related to any measured behavioural response; however, flowers visited by conopid‐parasitised bees set significantly heavier seeds than those visited by unparasitised bees. Larger bees were more likely to be parasitised, but the relationship between parasitism and seed set still held after accounting for body size. 5. The present results demonstrate that parasitoids may have positive impacts on per‐visit pollination, but, because larger bees were more frequently parasitised, parasitism could also affect pollination by removing the largest pollinators from the population.     

烟粉虱(Bemisia tabaci)的寄主选择性

通过田间系统调查、实验室嗅觉测定、笼内和培养皿内自由扩散观察,对烟粉虱的寄主选择性进行了研究.结果表明,在田间,烟粉虱对不同的寄主植物存在明显的寄主选择性,其中对茄子、花椰菜、黄瓜等植物具有较强的嗜性,而对蕹菜、芹菜、苋菜等植物的嗜性较差;烟粉虱对同一植物的不同品种也有明显的选择性.烟粉虱对寄主植物颜色有明显的选择性,选择结果与烟粉虱对这些寄主的嗜性趋势基本一致.烟粉虱对单株寄主植物的嗅觉反应不敏感,但对植物叶片的乙醇抽提物有明显的嗅觉反应,并表现出较强的寄主选择性.在养虫笼内,烟粉虱从虫源皿向寄主植物自由扩散的过程中,在不同寄主植物和同一植物的不同品种上着落的成虫数量不同,并且在一定的时间范围内,着落在寄主叶片上的虫量还会不断的发生变化.     

Effect of a novel repellent,acetylated glyceride,on courtship behaviours and acoustic signals of Bemisia tabaci

The sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), attacks a wide range of vegetables and ornamental plants in the tropics and subtropics. This study involved observations of adult whitefly courtship behaviours to determine the impact of acetylated glyceride treatment, which is currently being developed as a repellent for adults, on their progeny. In addition, the effect of acetylated glyceride treatment on acoustic‐based communication was evaluated, as this type of communication is known to play a pivotal role in the search for mating partners on host‐plant leaves in adult whiteflies. Adults were able to land on grape tomato leaves a few days after treatment, when the residual repellency had dissipated. Almost no male courtship behaviour in terms of searching for sexually mature females was observed throughout the observation period (60 min) under conditions in which adults of both sexes remained on a treated leaf or those in which an adult of either sex remained on a non‐treated leaf. By contrast, these behaviours accounted for 26.5% of the observation time under conditions in which both sexes remained on a non‐treated leaf. In cross‐tests performed for 4 days using one non‐mated female and two non‐mated males, the sex ratio (male/female) of the newly emerged adults on treated leaves (2.4) was 63.6% lower than that of the non‐treated controls (0.9). During courtship, acoustic signals produced by both sexes were exchanged rhythmically on non‐treated leaves, whereas the signals on treated leaves were irregular. The frequency of the vibratory sound produced by males was 66–81% lower on the treated leaves than on the non‐treated leaves. A large reduction in the acoustic signals produced by males on treated leaves caused a decrease in courting pair formation, leading to a significant reduction in the number of female progeny due to arrhenotokous parthenogenesis in virgin B. tabaci females.     

Searching behaviour of Encarsia formosa as mediated by colour and honeydew

The habitat- and host-searching behaviour of female Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was assessed using an airflow olfactometer and a filter paper test. Responses to different odour cues, colours, host-produced honeydew, non-host honeydew and single carbohydrates were determined. The parasitoid was not attracted to or arrested by odours emanating from clean tobacco leaves, tobacco leaves heavily infested with the host Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and covered with honeydew, or honeydew alone. However, E. formosa females showed a significant response to green light transmitted through a tobacco leaf. The yellow part of the spectrum was partly responsible for this response. Thus, the long-range orientation is random with respect to the presence of hosts. Filter paper tests showed that the short-range searching behaviour is influenced by water soluble, non-volatile contact-kairomones contained in the host-produced honeydew. Contact with honeydew excreted by L3/L4 T. vaporariorum resulted in longer searching times than honeydew from adult T. vaporariorum or L3/L4 Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). No difference was found between the response to honeydew excreted by adult and L3/L4 B. tabaci. The parasitoids' response to honeydew was unaffected by the host plant on which the whiteflies had fed. Non-host honeydew and single carbohydrates also affected the searching behaviour of E. formosa but to a lower extent than host honeydew. The possible differences in the carbohydrate and amino acid composition of the honeydew excreted by different life-stages of T. vaporariorum and B. tabaci are discussed.     

Response of the polyphagous whitefly Bemisia tabaci B-biotype (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) to crop diversification - influence of multiple sensory stimuli on activity and fecundity

A fundamental question concerning crop diversification is which mechanisms determine pest population size in polycultures compared to monocultures. It has been proposed that polyphagous insects experience a difficulty in decision-making when selecting food and oviposition sites in the presence of different host plants. This hypothesis was tested in the extremely polyphagous whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B-biotype, where behaviour (movement) and fecundity of females were compared in choice and no-choice experiments in the laboratory. Two parallel tests, one on different crops, including cucumber, bean and tomato, and one on different tomato cultivars, were conducted using both a mixture of crops and of tomato cultivars, as opposed to the same crop or cultivar respectively. Bemisia tabaci showed a distinct behavioural preference for cucumber when exposed to different crops simultaneously suggesting that B. tabaci has no difficulty in choosing a host plant, i.e. in making a decision, when one of the plants offered in the choice test is a high-ranking host plant. Conversely, when only low-ranking hosts of similar, but not identical, signatures were present, female whiteflies appeared to have difficulty in making a decision, resulting in increased movement and reduced fecundity. This is consistent with both the hypothesis that polyphagous insects have a problem selecting a host plant when given multiple choices and with the hierarchy threshold model, under which egg loads are lessened between periods of searching for better host plants. The study illustrates how insect behaviour can be affected by inter-cropping not only with different crops, but also with different cultivars of the same crop, thus potentially providing a simple and efficient way of reducing whitefly population build-up.     

Volatiles released from foliar extract of host plant enhance landing rates of gravid Polygonia c‐album females,but do not stimulate oviposition

The role of olfactory cues for host search is much less investigated in day‐active butterflies than in their relatives, the nocturnal moths. The goal of this study was to investigate whether host‐plant volatiles from foliar extracts of hop, Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabaceae), evoke electroantennographic (EAG) responses, increase landing rates, and stimulate egg‐laying behavior of gravid Polygonia c‐album L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) females. Eighty‐nine volatile compounds were detected in a non‐concentrated methanol extract of hop by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, 11 of which elicited an EAG response. Concentration of the crude extract significantly reduced landing rates on artificial leaves treated with the sample due to loss of volatile compounds, but after landing the oviposition response of gravid females was not affected. A mixture of eight commercially available EAG‐active volatiles increased the landing rate of gravid females to their source but did not act as oviposition stimulants. Dividing the volatile compounds into two groups – consisting of (1) hexanal, (E)‐2‐hexenal, octanal, nonanal, and decanal, and (2) sulcatone, humulene, and benzyl alcohol – obliterated effectiveness, revealing synergism between compounds. Although volatiles did not stimulate oviposition, they significantly contributed to the distribution of eggs by increasing the landing rates on treated artificial leaves.     

An approach for IPM program to control sucking pests infesting garden bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Egypt

An approach to eatablish IPM program for some sucking pests infesting garden beans plants was carried out in two successive seasons of 2004 and 2005 under field conditions in Alexandria, Egypt. The sucking pests included the aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae), the white fly, Bemisia tabaci Genn. (Homoptera: Aleyroidae) and the spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch Pymetrozine, thiamethoxam, carbosulfan, abamectin, azadirachtin and the detergent (Masrol 410) were tested for their efficacy in this study. Thiamethoxam, carbosulfan, and pymetrozine proved to be highly effective against Aphis craccivora Koch, while abamectin, azadirachtin, and the detergent (Masrol 410) provided a moderate effect. Moreover, thiamethoxam, pymetrozine, and abamectin showed remarkable efficacy against adults and immature stages of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. However, azadirachtin provided a moderate effect, while carbosulfan and detergent (Masrol 410) had no effect altogether on whiteflies. In addition, abamectin induced the highest toxicity effect against the red spider mite, Teteranychus urticae followed by azadirachtin and the detergent that provided moderate effects. IPM program could be achieved by using abamectin, pymetrozine and azadirachtin in a sequence pattern throughout the whole season. Furthermore, the performance of the used agrochemicals on certain nutritional elements of beans pods vr. Branco , i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and magnesium were also studied with varied results.     

Analysis by DC–EPG of the resistance to Bemisia tabaci on an Mi-tomato line

The tomato Mi gene confers resistance to nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., and to the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas). Previous greenhouse choice assays with Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) showed that tomato commercial varieties carrying this gene had significantly lower values of host suitability and whitefly reproduction than varieties lacking Mi. This indicated that Mi, or another gene in its region, could regulate partial resistance. In order to characterise this resistance, probing and feeding behaviour of Bemisia tabaci B-biotype was studied with DC Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) technique on the near-isogenic tomato lines Moneymaker (without Mi) and Motelle (carrying Mi). Significant differences (P < 0.05) between tomato lines were found in EPG parameters related to epidermis and/or mesophyll tissues. On Motelle, a lower percentage of whiteflies achieved phloem phase and they made more probes before attaining first phloem phase, had a higher ratio (number of probes before first phloem phase)/(total number of probes), had a longer total duration of non-probing time, and a longer time before making the first intracellular puncture and before making the first phloem phase. In contrast, most of the parameters related to phloem phase were found not to differ significantly between these near-isogenic lines. The behavioural data strongly suggest that the partial resistance in the variety Motelle is due to factors in the epidermis and/or mesophyll that inhibit the whiteflies from reaching phloem sieve elements. However, once the stylets reach a sieve element, whitefly behaviour did not differ between the two varieties. Thus, phloem sap of the two varieties appears to be equally acceptable to the whiteflies. Further studies are necessary to provide a better understanding of these mechanisms of resistance to whiteflies in tomatoes.     

Assessing larval rootworm behaviour after contacting maize roots: impact of germplasm,rootworm species and diapause status

Current methods of screening maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm for susceptibility or resistance to corn rootworms (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) rely primarily on information from large‐scale field experiments. Due to labour and cost constraints associated with field trials, alternative evaluation methods are desirable. We used a previously developed behavioural bioassay to: (1) investigate the host search behaviour of rootworm larvae after contact with 14 maize genotypes, (2) compare the behaviour of non‐diapausing Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, diapausing D. v. virgifera, and diapausing D. barberi Smith & Lawrence and (3) determine if this technique can be used to separate susceptible vs. resistant maize genotypes. The majority of rootworm larvae engaged in intensive (local search) behaviour after exposure to maize roots, whereas larvae continued to exhibit extensive (ranging) behaviour after contact with negative controls. Even though a transgenic hybrid with resistance to D. v. virgifera was included in analyses, quantitative path measurements were similar among genotypes and only differed between specific maize lines and controls. Notably, there were differences in host search behaviour among rootworm groups, with non‐diapausing D. v. virgifera having more convoluted paths and engaging in intensive search more frequently than diapausing rootworms. Correlations between larval path measurements and historic root damage ratings were not significant, although there were weak positive correlations between historic adult emergence densities and measures of path linearity. However, due to the lack of significant behavioural differences among maize lines with a range of susceptibility levels, we concluded that this bioassay is not useful in screening maize germplasm for rootworm resistance.     

Temporal changes of symbiont density and host fitness after rifampicin treatment in a whitefly of the Bemisia tabaci species complex

Microbial symbionts are essential or important partners to phloem‐feeding insects. Antibiotics have been used to selectively eliminate symbionts from their host insects and establish host lines with or without certain symbionts for investigating functions of the symbionts. In this study, using the antibiotic rifampicin we attempted to selectively eliminate certain symbionts from a population of the Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 whitefly of the Bemisia tabaci species complex, which harbors the primary symbiont “Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum” and two secondary symbionts “Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa” and Rickettsia. Neither the primary nor the secondary symbionts were completely depleted in the adults (F0) that fed for 48 h on a diet treated with rifampicin at concentrations of 1–100 μg/mL. However, both the primary and secondary symbionts were nearly completely depleted in the offspring (F1) of the rifampicin‐treated adults. Although the F1 adults produced some eggs (F2), most of the eggs failed to hatch and none of them reached the second instar, and consequently the rifampicin‐treated whitefly colony vanished at the F2 generation. Interestingly, quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays showed that in the rifampicin‐treated whiteflies, the density of the primary symbiont was reduced at an obviously slower pace than the secondary symbionts. Mating experiments between rifampicin‐treated and untreated adults demonstrated that the negative effects of rifampicin on host fitness were expressed when the females were treated by the antibiotic, and whether males were treated or not by the antibiotic had little contribution to the negative effects. These observations indicate that with this whitefly population it is not feasible to selectively eliminate the secondary symbionts using rifampicin without affecting the primary symbiont and establish host lines for experimental studies. However, the extinction of the whitefly colony at the second generation after rifampicin treatment indicates the potential of the antibiotic as a control agent of the whitefly pest.     

Elevated anthocyanins protect young Eucalyptus leaves from high irradiance but also indicate foliar nutritional quality to visually attuned psyllids

1. Foliar colour changes with age and, as a consequence, reflects the internal physiology of leaves. Anthocyanins are ‘red’ pigments known for their photoprotective role in young leaves and have been suggested to influence the host‐finding behaviour of insect herbivores. The existence of colour vision in some species of Eucalyptus‐feeding psyllid provides evidence for the possibility of them being able to locate and select leaves based on their age. 2. The preferences of three psyllid species, namely Anoeconeossa bundoorensis, Glycaspis brimblecombei, and Ctenarytaina bipartita, for leaf colours were tested using live leaves of different age, presented without olfactory cues. Changes in foliar pigment concentrations and relationships with amino acid composition in these psyllid's hosts, namely Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus kitsoniana, were studied to consider the adaptive significance of selecting leaves based on their age. 3. The preference for and attraction to young, anthocyanic leaves of two red‐sensitive psyllid species (A. bundoorensis and G. brimblecombei) were demonstrated, whilst the green‐yellow‐sensitive species (C. bipartita) was shown to discriminate between young ‘yellow’ and older ‘green’ leaves. Age‐related variation in leaf colour was positively correlated with greater availability of essential amino acids. 4. This study presents a unique example of herbivore attraction to ‘red’ leaves and strong evidence for reliance on colour vision in insect orientation at the within‐host level.