An electrophysiological and behavioural study of insect antifeedant properties of natural and synthetic drimane-related compounds

ABSTRACT. A range of drimane-related natural and synthetic compounds have been tested in behavioural and electrophysiological screens against larvae of Spodoptera exempta (Walker), S. littoralis (Boisduval), S. frugiperda (J. E. Smith), Heliothis armigera (Hubner) and H. virescens (Fabricius). The most effective compounds are identified and their potential as antifeedants and metabolic poisons is assessed. A consideration of structure in relation to function allows the identification of important functional groups within molecules.