Laboratory and field investigation on the orientation of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to more suitable host plants driven by volatiles and component analysis of volatiles

Abstract

BACKGROUND Differences in population densities of Frankliniella occidentalis among different plant species suggest a preference for particular hosts. Host plant volatiles are often involved in insect fitness. However, few studies have explored the interaction between flower volatiles and fitness. The host fitness of F. occidentalis for different flowers was assessed through field investigation, and the olfactory preference of thrips for flower volatiles was tested in the laboratory. RESULTS In the field study, 18 flower host plants were classified at four fitness levels by F. occidentalis. Olfactory tests showed that female F. occidentalis had significantly different preferences for different plant odours among the volatiles of the four tested flowers (each representing the four fitness levels), whereas male F. occidentalis did not. The relative response of F. occidentalis females to flower volatiles (Rosa rugosa > Dianthus caryophyllus > Gerbera jamesonii > Pelargonium hortorum) was consistent with the field performance of F. occidentalis. In total, 23, 29, 16 and 26 components were identified in the volatile profiles of R. rugosa, D. caryophyllus, G. jamesonii and P. hortorum, respectively. 3,5‐Dimethoxytoluene (24.94%), nonanal (30.42%), (E)‐3‐penten‐2‐one (52.31%) and zingiberene (29.88%) were the single most abundant components of the volatiles of R. rugosa, D. caryophyllus, G. jamesonii and P. hortorum, respectively. CONCLUSION Volatiles are important in attracting F. occidentalis to suitable hosts, and differences in the types and concentrations of volatile components among flowers may directly influence the olfactory responses and field performance of thrips. Potential attractants could be developed for integrated pest management programmes against this pest. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Behavioral Responses of Thrips hawaiiensis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to Volatile Compounds Identified from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (Gentianales: Rubiaceae)

“…Flower volatiles were collected and analyzed as described in Cao et al [ 16 ]. Flower material (0.3 g) excised from a given host plant was kept in a glass bottle (200 mL) for 2 h prior to capturing the volatiles emitted using a solid-phase microextraction fiber (a ~50/30 µm DVB/CAR/PDMS StableFlex fiber).…”

Host Plant Species of Bemisia tabaci Affect Orientational Behavior of the Ladybeetle Serangium japonicum and Their Implication for the Biological Control Strategy of Whiteflies

“…Naïve predatory mirid bug Dicyphus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae) had no preference between uninfested and Bactericera cockerelli Sulcer (Hemiptera: Triozidae) egg-infested tomato; however, D. hesperus females with foraging experience preferred infested tomato [ 39 ]. In addition, the morphological characteristics of plants, such as trichome, leaf color, leaf shape and so on, also affect the seeking behavior of pests and natural enemies [ 40 , 41 ].…”

“…Nonanal and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate were detected in Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)-infested eggplant [ 42 ]. The volatile Nonanal from Sophora japonica flowers markedly attracted H. axyridis [ 43 ], and a high content of Nonanal was also found in plant odors that attracted Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) [ 40 ]. Many alkane species were detected and even reported in other plants [ 43 , 44 ].…”

Isolation and identification of attractants from the pupae of three lepidopteran species for the parasitoid Chouioia cunea Yang

“…The reproductive success of parasitic insects depends on their ability to locate their hosts . Although visual and other cues mediate host location in various parasitoids, infochemicals are particularly important in host location .…”

“…The reproductive success of parasitic insects depends on their ability to locate their hosts. [6][7][8][9] Although visual and other cues mediate host location in various parasitoids, infochemicals are particularly important in host location. 10,11 Kairomones emitted by potential hosts can reveal their presence to parasitoids and guide host finding and acceptance.…”