Male and female Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae) larvae produce and respond to aggregation pheromone

Abstract

Insect aggregation pheromones are defined as chemical substances produced by members of one or both sexes that induce members of both sexes to form aggregations (Borden 1984). Aggregation pheromones are typically emitted by and attract adult insects. Interestingly, larvae of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae), seeking pupation sites will aggregate in response to pheromone produced by cocoon-spinning conspecific larvae (Duthie et al. 2003). Such aggregations may be part of a mating strategy in which protandrous males are arrested by sex pheromone emanating from mature female pupae, thus allowing mating to ensue as soon as a female moth ecloses (Duthie et al. 2003). The cocoon-derived pheromone also attracts the specialist prepupal parasitoid Mastrus ridibundus Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), which “eavesdrops” on pheromonal communication of cocoon-spinning larvae (Jumean et al. 2004).

Cocoon‐spinning larvae of Oriental fruit moth and Indianmeal moth do not produce aggregation pheromone

“…The lack of cross-attraction of CM larvae to cocoon-spinning OFM or IMM larvae ( Fig. 4 , experiments 7 and 8) suggests that OFM and IMM larvae do not produce any or all of the components of the CM larval aggregation pheromone ( Jumean et al , 2004 ). Although there was much overlap in headspace volatiles of cocoon-spinning CM, OFM and IMM larvae ( Table 2 ), one or two components [3-carene and ( E )-2-octenal] of the CM larval aggregation pheromone were consistently absent in volatile blends of OFM or IMM larvae.…”

“…The lack of pheromone-based aggregation behaviour among OFM and IMM larvae is in contrast to the production of and response to aggregation pheromone by CM larvae ( Duthie et al , 2003;Jumean et al , 2004Jumean et al , , 2005a, a phenomenon hypothesized to facilitate the earliest possible mating between eclosed male and female CM ( Duthie et al , 2003 ) and thus to minimize adverse fitness consequences associated with delayed mating ( Knight, 1997;Vickers, 1997 ). Although delayed mating has similar adverse fitness consequences for OFM and IMM as it has for CM ( Fraser & Trimble, 2001;Huang & Subramanyam, 2003 ), it appears that the concept of an early-mating strategy, which might explain CM larval aggregation, is not applicable to OFM and IMM because they do not exhibit larval aggregations.…”

“…Extracts were analysed by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in full-scan electron impact mode using a Varian Saturn 2000 Ion Trap GC-MS fitted with a DB-5 column (length 30 m, inner diameter 0.25 mm; J&W Scientific, Folsom, California). The composition of volatile blends emitted by OFM and IMM larvae was compared to that emitted by CM larvae, as reported by Jumean et al (2004Jumean et al ( , 2005a and to a control aeration.…”

“…However, the fitness benefits to individuals that use this pheromone are not known. Finally, cocoon-spinning larvae of the codling moth (CM) Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) produce an eightcomponent aggregation pheromone that disseminates from fresh cocoons and attracts conspecific larvae seeking pupation sites ( Duthie et al , 2003;Jumean et al , 2004Jumean et al , , 2005aJumean et al , , b, 2007Jumean et al , , 2008. The fitness benefits larvae accrue by responding to the pheromone are still unknown but may include efficient location of suitable pupation sites, reduced risk of parasitism and expedient mating of eclosing adults ( Duthie et al , 2003 ).…”

Frequency Distribution of Larval Codling Moth,Cydia pomonellaL., Aggregations on Trees in Unmanaged Apple Orchards of the Pacific Northwest

“…Larvae of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella L., produce a pheromone during cocoon-spinning that attracts conspeciÞc larvae to the site of pheromone release (Duthie et al 2003;Jumean et al 2004Jumean et al , 2005aJumean et al , b, 2008. C. pomonella is the most important pest of apple fruits, other pome fruits, and nuts worldwide (Clausen 1978).…”