Aphid Alarm Pheromones: Secretion and Reception1

Nault, L. R.; Edwards, Lawrence; Styer, W. E.

doi:10.1093/ee/2.1.101

Cited by 163 publications

(101 citation statements)

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“…Cornicle secretions, although not specifically EBF, from A. pisum have been reported to be a contact kairomone for A. ervi [56]. Aphids release alarm pheromone when confronted with natural enemies, which often leads to escape behaviors, such as dropping from the host plant [36,37], and inducing the production of winged morphs [57]. In groups of symbiont-defended aphids, the release of lower amounts of EBF could be adaptive, as dropping from the plant, or dispersing is risky [58] while staying put may be a better strategy if one is likely to survive a parasitoid attack.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasitic wasp responses to symbiont-based defense in aphids

et al. 2012

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Background Recent findings indicate that several insect lineages receive protection against particular natural enemies through infection with heritable symbionts, but little is yet known about whether enemies are able to discriminate and respond to symbiont-based defense. The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum , receives protection against the parasitic wasp, Aphidius ervi , when infected with the bacterial symbiont Hamiltonella defensa and its associated bacteriophage APSE ( Acyrthosiphon pisum s econdary e ndosymbiont). Internally developing parasitoid wasps, such as A. ervi , use maternal and embryonic factors to create an environment suitable for developing wasps. If more than one parasitoid egg is deposited into a single aphid host (superparasitism), then additional complements of these factors may contribute to the successful development of the single parasitoid that emerges. Results We performed experiments to determine if superparasitism is a tactic allowing wasps to overcome symbiont-mediated defense. We found that the deposition of two eggs into symbiont-protected aphids significantly increased rates of successful parasitism relative to singly parasitized aphids. We then conducted behavioral assays to determine whether A. ervi selectively superparasitizes H. defensa -infected aphids. In choice tests, we found that A. ervi tends to deposit a single egg in uninfected aphids, but two or more eggs in H. defensa -infected aphids, indicating that oviposition choices may be largely determined by infection status. Finally, we identified differences in the quantity of the trans-β-farnesene, the major component of aphid alarm pheromone, between H. defensa -infected and uninfected aphids, which may form the basis for discrimination. Conclusions Here we show that the parasitic wasp A. ervi discriminates among symbiont-infected and uninfected aphids, and changes its oviposition behavior in a way that increases the likelihood of overcoming symbiont-based defense. More generally, our results indicate that natural enemies are not passive victims of defensive symbionts, and that an evolutionary arms race between A. pisum and the parasitoid A. ervi may be mediated by a bacterial symbiosis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasitic wasp responses to symbiont-based defense in aphids

et al. 2012

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“…The killed aphids were placed in one of two separate categories: "partially consumed" or "killed but unconsumed". The latter were recognized by the slight change in the shape of their body due to feeding by the predator and also by a slight change in colour (darker) and the presence of a drop of exudate on the siphunculi, which indicates a predator attack (Nault et al, 1973). In fact, the aphids died after a predator inserted its stylets even if abandoned, as is recorded for the related predator Anthocoris nemorum L. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) (Ekbom, 1981).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 92%