The role of plant chemical cues in determining host preference in the generalist aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani

The host preference behaviour of the generalist aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemaniwas investigated using a Y-tube olfactometer. Female A. colemanishowed a preference for the host-plant complex on which they had been reared, even though the same aphid host was involved, demonstrating a host plant preference. This preference was not evident when the parasitoids were dissected from their mummies prior to adult emergence. Host plant preference exhibited during host selection appeared to be induced by chemical cues encountered on the mummy case at the time of emergence, but preferences could be changed by subsequent foraging experiences. It is concluded that plant chemical cues play a major role in determining initial preferences through a process of emergence conditioning but that learning processes, involving cues encountered during oviposition in or contact with the host, can modify these initial preferences.     

Response of the pine engraver, Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), to conophthorin and other angiosperm bark volatiles in the avoidance of non-hosts

1 Seventeen non‐host angiosperm bark volatiles, seven of which are antennally active to Ips pini (Say), the pine engraver (PE), were tested for their ability to disrupt the response of the PE to pheromone‐baited traps. 2 Four green leaf volatiles (GLVs) were tested [1‐hexanol (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, hexanal, and (E)‐2‐hexenal]. None had any disruptive effect singly, as a group or in all possible blends based on functional groups, despite the fact that the two aldehydes were antennally active. These compounds may have, in some instances, actually masked the disruptive effect of other compounds. The PE thus differs in its response from other Scolytidae, including other Ips spp. 3 Eight non‐host volatiles that were antennally active to other bark beetles, but not to PEs, had no disruptive effect, validating the use of coupled gas chromatographic‐electroantennographic detection analyses to detect compounds with potential behavioural activity. 4 The bicyclic spiroacetal conophthorin, (E)‐7‐methyl‐1,6‐dioxaspiro[4.5]decane, was disruptive when tested alone. When blends of two aldehydes [salicylaldehyde and nonanal] plus an alcohol and a phenol [benzyl alcohol and guaiacol] were combined with conophthorin, an enhanced disruptive effect was revealed. No single compound, other than conophthorin, disrupted the pheromone‐positive response and no blend that did not contain conophthorin was consistently disruptive to both sexes. Conophthorin seems to be a critical component in the non‐host angiosperm message for I. pini during its host selection phase. 5 Combination of the repellent synomones, verbenone and ipsenol, with the five disruptive non‐host volatiles may provide a potent treatment to protect trees, logs or stands from attack by the PE.     

二化螟盘绒茧蜂及稻虱缨小蜂对挥发物的嗅觉反应

【目的】揭示二化螟盘绒茧蜂Apanteles chilonis Munakata与稻虱缨小蜂Anagrus nilaparvatae对单一水稻挥发物组分的选择行为,了解水稻挥发物在其寄主搜寻过程中的作用,为水稻害虫寄生蜂引诱剂的研发提供技术基础。【方法】利用Y型嗅觉仪测定了二化螟盘绒茧蜂与稻虱缨小蜂对11种水稻挥发物组分(反-2-己烯醛、α-蒎烯、乙酸叶醇酯、芳樟醇、β-石竹烯、反-3-己烯醛、水杨酸甲酯、罗勒烯、苯甲醛、2-壬酮、柠檬烯)的嗅觉行为反应。【结果】β-石竹烯(10、50μg/kg)、罗勒烯(0.1、1、10μg/kg)、2-壬酮(10μg/kg)及反-2-己烯醛(50μg/kg)对二化螟盘绒茧蜂行为具有显著影响;稻虱缨小蜂对反-2-己烯醛(50μg/kg)、反-3-己烯醛(1、10、50μg/kg)、芳樟醇(0.1、1、10μg/kg)、β-石竹烯(0.1、50μg/kg)、罗勒烯(1μg/kg)、α-蒎烯(1μg/kg)和水杨酸甲酯(0.1、1、10、50μg/kg)有显著的嗅觉反应。【结论】寄生蜂对水稻挥发性气味的识别与挥发物的种类和浓度有很大关系,研发水稻害虫寄生蜂的引诱剂时需考虑挥发物的种类与浓度。     

Variability for host preference in insect populations: Mechanistic and evolutionary models

Two models that explain variation in behaviour associated with locating and accepting different habitats (host plants) are described and analyzed. One model describes the dynamics of search-mode ontogeny in Battus philenor butterflies. This model predicts that the proportion of females using either of two search modes at any given time reflects an equilibrium between the rate at which females switch from using a narrow-leaf search mode to using a broad-leaf search mode and the rate at which the opposite switch is made. Preliminary data suggest that the model predicts reasonably well the observed seasonal change in predominant search mode in the field. The second model, really a set of related models, describes the dynamics of genes that influence searching behaviour. Several predictions of these models are: (1) gentic variation for proportional allocation of offspring to different habitats should be more common under soft-selection regimes than under hard-selection regimes. (2) Polyphagy should be more common under soft selection than under hard selection. (3) Whether changes in the relative abundances or relative quality of different habitats lead to evolutionary change in apportionment of offspring to habitats depends in a complex way on mode of population regulation, method of search, type of limitation of fecundity and genetic properties of loci affecting preference. Although the two types of models superficially appear to address different types of behavioural variation, they may be used in a complementary fashion to understand the evolution of habitat selection behaviour.     

寄主挥发物、叶色和表皮毛在美洲斑潜蝇寄主选择中的作用

在室内条件下 ,初步研究了寄主挥发物、叶色和表皮毛在美洲斑潜蝇寄主选择中的作用。在嗅觉仪试验中 ,寄主叶片挥发物对美洲斑潜蝇雌成虫没有明显的引诱作用 ;在叶色反应试验中 ,美洲斑潜蝇雌成虫在叶子圆片上停留的时间明显大于在滤纸圆片上停留的时间 (p<0 .0 1) ,其在有叶片区域分布的数量明显多于空白对照 (p <0 .0 1) ;在表皮毛试验中 ,美洲斑潜蝇在无毛叶片上的产卵量明显大于在有毛叶片上的产卵量 (p <0 .0 1)。上述结果表明 ,在对寄主的定向和定位过程中 ,美洲斑潜蝇的视觉起着重要的作用 ,而嗅觉不起作用 ;叶片表皮毛有抑制产卵的作用     

Phenolic glucosides as feeding cues for willow-feeding leaf beetles

The effects of individual phenolic glucosides and total glucoside fractions on the feeding behaviour of three willowfeeding leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) were tested in the laboratory. Feeding preferences of the tested leaf beetles were strongly influenced by certain phenolic glucosides which are typical secondary compounds of willows (Salicaceae:Salix). Two of the tested leaf beetles,Galerucella lineola andLochmaea capreae showed rather similar responses to glucoside treatments. Both of them were strongly stimulated by total glucoside fractions fromSalix triandra and by its major glucoside salidroside. The third species,Phatora vitellinae, was attracted most by the fractions fromS. myrsinifolia andS. pentandra, and by two related salicylate glucosides, tremulacin and salicortin. Food selection pattern of the tested beetles in the laboratory concords fairly well with their distributions in the field and with the occurrence of phenolic glucosides in their host willows. Phenolic glucoside extracts stimulated more feeding than individual pure glucosides. This indicates that different compounds have synergistic effects in the feeding behaviour of leaf beetles. Our results clearly show that willow leaf beetles select their food based on phenolic glucosides of their host plants.     

Outcomes of co-infection by two potyviruses: implications for the evolution of manipulative strategies

Recent studies have documented effects of plant viruses on host plants that appear to enhance transmission by insect vectors. But, almost no empirical work has explored the implications of such apparent manipulation for interactions among co-infecting pathogens. We examined single and mixed infections of two potyviruses, watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), that frequently co-occur in cucurbitaceae populations and share the same aphid vectors. We found that ZYMV isolates replicated at similar rates in single and mixed infections, whereas WMV strains accumulated to significantly lower levels in the presence of ZYMV. Furthermore, ZYMV induced changes in leaf colour and volatile emissions that enhanced aphid (Aphis gossypii) recruitment to infected plants. By contrast, WMV did not elicit strong effects on plant–aphid interactions. Nevertheless, WMV was still readily transmitted from mixed infections, despite fairing poorly in in-plant competition. These findings suggest that pathogen effects on host–vector interactions may well influence competition among co-infecting pathogens. For example, if non-manipulative pathogens benefit from the increased vector traffic elicited by manipulative competitors, their costs of competition may be mitigated to some extent. Conversely, the benefits of manipulation may be limited by free-rider effects in systems where there is strong competition among pathogens for host resources and/or access to vectors.     

Frequency Dependence of Host Plant Choice within and Between Patches: A Large Cage Experiment

Oviposition preference is considered to be one of the most important factors behind patterns of host use among herbivorous insects. However, preference is defined as host plant choice under equal host abundance and availability, and it is likely that frequency-dependent effects will alter the actual pattern of host use beyond what preference trials reveals. The effects of such alterations are poorly known but could be important for the understanding of specialization and host shifts. We investigated how changes in frequency of a preferred and a less preferred host affected movement patterns and egg deposition within and among patches in a polyphagous butterfly, Polygonia c-album. Two experiments were carried out in large (8 × 30 m) outdoor cages, artificially divided into distinct patches with different frequencies of the two hosts: one that allowed for limited movement between patches and one that did not. There was a clear effect of frequency on patch selection; females spent more time in and laid more eggs in patches with a high frequency of the preferred host, which will potentially have a large effect on host use by modifying encounter rates in favor of the preferred host. However, there was no significant frequency-dependent plant choice within patches in any experiment. Instead, results indicate that females are distributing their eggs among plants species according to specific likelihoods of oviposition, independent of encounter rates, which is compatible with a strategy of risk-spreading.Co-ordinating editor: N. Yamamura     

Foraging behaviour of the parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in response to plant volatiles,with reference to biocontrol of aphids in peri-urban vegetable production systems

Foraging behaviour of Lysiphlebus testaceipes was studied in a Y-tube olfactometer. Naïve females responded to the Aphis gossypii/eggplant complex on which they had been reared, but did not show a preference for this aphid/plant complex over an uninfested eggplant, an eggplant that had been damaged by the aphid or an A. gossypii/okra complex. Females that had been allowed to forage on the A. gossypii/eggplant complex before being tested in the olfactometer showed a strong preference for an uninfested eggplant over an uninfested okra plant and for the A. gossypii/eggplant complex over an A. gossypii/okra complex, indicating that they had learned to associate eggplant-derived volatiles with host availability. When females that had been reared on the A. gossypii/eggplant complex were tested after foraging experience on the A. gossypii/okra complex, they did not show a preference for either complex, suggesting that they still retained a memory of the cues associated with the complex on which they had been reared. The efficiency of L. testaceipes as a biological control agent in peri-urban vegetable production, such as the Cuban organoponics system, potentially could be improved by producing and releasing females behaviourally primed to prefer specific host/plant complexes.     

Olfactory response of Anagrus,nigriventrls (HYM.: Mymaridae): Effects of host plant chemical cues mediated by rearing and oviposition experience

The egg parasitoid Anagrus nigriventris Girault is an important natural enemy of the beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus (Baker) which has a broad host range that includes cultivated sugar beets and the weed, Russian thistle. When parasitoids were reared on leafhopper eggs deposited in sugar beets, females were attracted to sugar beet volatiles and preferred them over a blank control and over Russian thistle volatiles in Y- tube olfactometer tests. No preference was detected for either plant by female wasps that were reared on Russian thistle. Wasps reared on Russian thistle and allowed an oviposition experience on sugar beet showed a strong attraction to sugar beet volatiles; however, wasps reared on sugar beets and allowed oviposition experience on Russian thistle demonstrated no preference between the two plants. The implications of parasitoid response towards plant volatiles and their importance in biological control are discussed.