Olfactory responses of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to odors of host plants and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)–plant complexes

Abstract

We studied the olfactory responses of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to odors from eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), pepper (Capsicum aunuum), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), three host plants, and their complexes with different treatments (undamaged, mechanically damaged, infested, pre-infested) in an olfactometer. The results showed that N. cucumeris preferred the odors of undamaged eggplant, pepper, and tomato to clean air. N. cucumeris preferred the volatiles from eggplant infested with Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) over undamaged, mechanically damaged, and pre-infested with F. occidentalis eggplant volatiles. The same results were observed with pepper and tomato. N. cucumeris adults preferred the odors of undamaged eggplant and tomato to undamaged pepper. Similarly, same results were observed with mechanically damaged eggplant, pepper, tomato, and same plants pre-infested with F. occidentalis. Compared with odors of tomato infested with F. occidentalis, N. cucumeris adults significantly responded to odors of eggplant and pepper infested with F. occidentalis. There was no significant difference of N. cucumeris in making choice between eggplant infested with F. occidentalis and pepper infested with F. occidentalis.

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

“…Host plant volatiles not only attract phytophagous pests but also their natural enemies [46][47][48] Although predators seem to be more attracted by herbivore-induced volatiles, as reported on the significant preferences of the predator Neoseiulus cucumeris Oudemans (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to the volatiles from vegetable hosts infested by F. occidentalis or Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Lindeman) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) [47,49], data that do not support such a specificity have been reported [50][51][52][53]. In this framework, it is imperative to study the attractiveness of VOCs from healthy and infested flowers to natural enemies of T. hawaiiensis, e.g., Orius sauteri Poppius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) [54].…”

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

“…However, the volatile components of pollens were not considered in this study, and need to be investigated to comprehensively evaluate the olfactory responses to different flowers. Additionally, the volatiles from healthy host plants and those induced by F. occidentalis damage significantly attract the natural enemy of F. occidentalis – Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) . Thus, it is also necessary to carry out further studies on the attractiveness of flower volatiles to both F. occidentalis and N. cucumeris , which will be useful for establishing an ecological control system in which natural enemies are used as an alternative to chemical protectants to control F. occidentalis infestation of flowers.…”

An astigmatid defence volatile against a phytoseiid mite

“…Phytoseiid mites are known to respond to volatile attractants and deterrents of plants and arthropods (Sabelis & van de Baan, ; Dicke et al., ; Rasmy et al., ; Janssen et al., ; Shimoda, ; Sznajder et al., ; Zhong et al., ) with some studies reporting defence properties of volatiles from phytophagous insects and mites. Rasmy et al.…”