Aphid responses to non‐host epicuticular lipids

Abstract

Initiation of stylet penetration by aphids depends on the sensory assessment of a number of plant surface features including colour, texture and phytochemicals (volatile and non-volatile). Video recording behaviour of the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae, showed that these insects rapidly inserted their stylets following contact with host plants (beans), but were reluctant to penetrate non-hosts (oats). However, when epicuticular waxes were stripped from oats, using cellulose acetate, aphids penetrated the plant surface significantly earlier than on oats with the wax layer intact. Chloroform extraction of epicuticular lipids, followed by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, revealed a complex blend of wax components on beans, whereas one compound (1-hexacosanol) predominated on oats. Epicuticular lipids were applied to artificial (glass) substrates in order to investigate their behavioural activity. Initiation of a stylet penetration attempt by A. fabae was delayed when the oat extract or pure 1-hexacosanol were applied, but the bean extract had no behavioural effect. The results suggest that epicuticular lipids play an important role in the early stages of host-plant selection by A. fabae.

Leaf surface compounds of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) and their influence on Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) feeding

“…The chemical composition of plant cuticular waxes can affect the resistance of plants to herbivores and herbivore behavior. Cuticular waxes and their separate components enhance or deter insect oviposition, movement or feeding (Eigenbrode & Espelie 1995;Powell et al 1999;Müller & Hilker 2001;Steinbauer et al 2004;Li & Ishikawa 2006).…”

Host Selection and Probing Behavior of the Poplar Aphid <I>Chaitophorus leucomelas</I> (Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) on Two Poplar Hybrids With Contrasting Susceptibility to Aphids

“…unk., unknown compound. waxes, which may inßuence aphid behavior before stylet insertion (Bruce et al 2005, Pickett et al 1992Powell et al 1999Powell et al , 2006Yang et al 1993). Studies of other insect herbivores have provided evidence of the deterrent effect of epicuticular waxes (Bodnaryk 1992, Eigenbrode and Espelie 1995, Muller and Riederer 2005.…”

Host Sex Discrimination by an Egg Parasitoid on Brassica Leaves

“…Linear hydrocarbons were dominated by n-nonacosane and n-hentriacontane, while n-nonadecane was absent. Based on the literature, n-nonadecane is not present in the epicuticular waxes of several of N. viridula host plants belonging to different families, such as Solanaceae, e.g., Lycopersicum esculentum (Zygadlo et al, 1994), Solanum tuberosum (Szafranek and Synak, 2006); Brassicaceae, e.g., B. oleracea (Baker, 1974;Hunsche et al, 2006;Purdy and Truter, 2010); Fabaceae, e.g., Vicia faba (Powell et al, 1999), Glycine max (Kim et al, 2007), Phaseolus vulgaris (Hunsche et al, 2006), and Pisum sativum (Gniwotta et al, 2005). Therefore, the absence of n-nonadecane among the hydrocarbons of epicuticular plant surfaces of these N. viridula host plants avoids possible masking effects and may enhance T. basalis host location.…”