Novel insights into insect chemical communication – an introduction

Leung, Kelley; Beukeboom, Leo W.; Buellesbach, Jan

doi:10.1111/eea.13159

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Employing natural enemies for pest control provides multiple advantages over insecticides, including reduced environmental pollution caused by chemical agents. Natural enemies not only effectively control the population of pests, but also maintain the population of other insects in the field and preserve the ecological balance ( Karamaouna et al., 2021 ; Leung et al., 2022 ; Souza et al., 2023 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volatiles from cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) infested plants attract the natural enemy Hippodamia variegata

Yi,

Teng,

Xie

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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The Aphis gossypii is a major threat of cotton worldwide due to its short life cycle and rapid reproduction. Chemical control is the primary method used to manage the cotton aphid, which has significant environmental impacts. Therefore, prioritizing eco-friendly alternatives is essential for managing the cotton aphid. The ladybird, Hippodamia variegata, is a predominant predator of the cotton aphid. Its performance in cotton plantation is directly linked to chemical communication, where volatile compounds emitted from aphid-infested plants play important roles in successful predation. Here, we comprehensively studied the chemical interaction between the pest, natural enemy and host plants by analyzing the volatile profiles of aphid-infested cotton plants using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We then utilized the identified volatile compounds in electrophysiological recording (EAG) and behavioral assays. Through behavioral tests, we initially demonstrated the clear preference of both larvae and adults of H. variegata for aphid-infested plants. Subsequently, 13 compounds, namely α-pinene, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, 4-ethyl-1-octyn-3-ol, β-ocimene, dodecane, E-β-farnesene, decanal, methyl salicylate, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene, farnesol, DMNT, and TMTT were identified from aphid-infested plants. All these compounds were electrophysiologically active and induced detectable EAG responses in larvae and adults. Y-tube olfactometer assays indicated that, with few exceptions for larvae, all identified chemicals were attractive to H. variegata, particularly at the highest tested concentration (100 mg/ml). The outcomes of this study establish a practical foundation for developing attractants for H. variegata and open avenues for potential advancements in aphid management strategies by understanding the details of chemical communication at a tritrophic level.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%