Behavioural Responses of Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), to Volatiles from Three Aromatic Plants

Abstract

The behavioural responses of adult female western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) to volatiles from meadow-sweet (Filipendula ulmaria), bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) and sage (Salvia officinalis) were investigated in laboratory bioassays. Volatiles collected by entrainment of a solvent extract of F. ulmaria were more attractive than was the original extract. Frankliniella occidentalis was also significantly attracted to volatiles from L. nobilis and S. officinalis. Analysis by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry identified 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) as one of the main volatile components of all three plant species. In coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography studies with F. ulmaria, both 1,8-cineole and methyl salicylate elicited responses from F. occidentalis. Eucarvone was identified as the major component of F. ulmaria volatiles, but showed no electrophysiological activity. Behavioural responses of thrips to a range of concentrations of 1,8-cineole and methyl salicylate were tested using a modified Pettersson 'star' olfactometer. 1,8-Cineole showed some attractant activity for the thrips at 0.01 mg, but methyl salicylate was repellent at all the concentrations tested.Resume-La reponse comportementale de femelles adultes de thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) aux emissions volatiles de trois plantes aromatiques, la filipendule (Filipendula ulmaria), le laurier-sauce (Laurus nobilis) et la sauge (Salvia officinalis), a ete etudiee dans des essais au laboratoire. Les produits volatils obtenus par collecte d'effluves d'un extrait par solvant de F. ulmaria se sont montres plus attractifs que l'extrait original. Frankliniella occidentalis a aussi ete attire significativement par les emissions volatiles de L. nobilis et S. officinalis. Des analyses par chromatographie en phase gazeuse et spectrometrie de masse ont permis d'identifier le 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) comme l'un des composes volatils majeurs des trois especes vegetales. Dans des etudes par couplage chromatographie en phase gazeuse-electroantennographie, avec un extrait de F. ulmaria, le 1,8-cineole et le methyl salicylate ont tous deux induit des reponses chez F. occidentalis. L'eucarvone a ete identifie comme le compose majoritaire des emissions volatiles de F. ulmaria, mais n'a induit aucune activite electrophysiologique. Les reponses comportementales des thrips a une gamme de concentrations de 1,8-cineole et de methyl salicylate ont ete evaluees dans im olfactometre de Pettersson modife. Le 1,8-cineole a induit une certaine attraction chez les thrips a la concentration de 0,01 mg, mais le methyl salicylate a ete repulsif a toutes les concentrations testees.

Repellency of Essential Oils to <I>Frankliniella occidentalis</I> (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) as Affected by Type of Oil and Polymer Release

“…Methyl salicylate (found in oil of wintergreen) and salicylaldehyde are among these compounds (Koschier et al 2000, Chermenskaya et al 2001, Koschier et al 2007). Methyl salicylate is a phenylpropanoid compound derived from salicylic acid and is the primary constituent in the oil of wintergreen (Koschier et al 2007).…”

The behavioral response of the predatory bug Orius laevigatus Fieber (Heteroptera, Anthocoridae) to synthetic volatiles

“…One of the reasons for testing anisaldehyde and eucalyptol was their attractiveness for the preferred prey of Orius bugs, the onion and western flower thrips, which was clearly demonstrated both in the laboratory (antennographic detection and olfactometer tests) and in greenhouses (Teulon et al, 1993(Teulon et al, , 1999Selitskaya et al, 1999;Koschier et al, 2000;Murai et al, 2000;Chermenskaya et al, 2001;Katerinopoulos et al, 2005). Our initial assessment showed anisaldehyde to be attractive even in a dosage of 1 µg/dispenser: the number of individuals in the test variant was almost twice that in the control, the difference being highly significant.…”

Essential Oil Compounds for Thrips Control – a Review

“…The attractiveness of Verbena x hybrida flowers to the western flower thrips, F. occidentalis, could be attributed specifically to (3S,6S)-tetrahydro-2,2,6-trimethyl-6-vinyl-2Hpyran-3-ol, a diastereo-isomer of linalool oxide [23,39], and the same thrips species proved to be attracted to Filipendula ulmaria Maxim. flowers [14], presumably because their floral odour contains 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) [24]. In some cases, thrips responses to phytochemicals were observed rather by chance: In trapping experiments with beetles it was noticed that the traps baited with methyl anthranilate attracted thrips [40].…”