Persistence of the oviposition-deterring pheromone inChrysopa oculata (Neur.: Chrysopidae)

Paper previously exposed for short periods to first instar larvae ofChrysopa oculata Say (Neur.: Chrysopidae) deters conspecific females from ovipositing. The deterrent effect was not reduced by keeping the substrates at temperatures of up to 140°C for one hour. The oviposition-deterring pheromone is volatile. If contaminated substrates were kept in the open air for 3–4 weeks they no longer deterred females from ovipositing. However, the deterrent effect did not decrease significantly when the substrates were kept for 20 weeks in small Petri dishes. Clean paper substrates enclosed for one day above glass previously walked over by larvae also deterred females from ovipositing.