The Chemical Ecology of Cecidomyiid Midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

Abstract

The family of cecidomyiid midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) exhibits diversified patterns of life history, behavior, host range, population dynamics and other ecological traits. Those that feed on plants include many important agricultural pests; most cultivated plants are attacked by at least one midge species. Several features of the reproductive biology of cecidomyiid midges point to an important role for chemical communication, with this topic last reviewed comprehensively 12 years ago. Here, we review progress on identification of sex pheromones, chemicals involved in location of host plants, the neurophysiology of reception of volatile chemicals, and application of semiochemicals to management of pest species of cecidomyiid midges that has occurred during the last decade. We hope this review will stimulate and sustain further research in these fields.

Female sex pheromone gland of the boxwood leafminer, Monarthropalpus buxi (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae): Morphological and behavioural evidence

“…The functioning of these pheromone compounds depends most commonly an acetoxy-, butyroxy-, or keto-groups. In species related to M. buxi (e.g., species belonging to the tribe Cecidomyiini), the components of the female sex pheromone are mono-or diacetates and acetoxyketones (Hall et al, 2012). A preliminary report (Riolo et al, 2006) of di-esters with two different alkanoyloxy groups in the pheromone of C. sorghicola needs to be confirmed.…”

“…Several morphological and behavioural features of the reproductive biology of gall midges indicate an important role for chemical communication, especially as all gall midges reproduce sexually (Gagné, 1994;Hall et al, 2012). The existence of a sex pheromone gland is documented currently for only four species of gall midges, three phytophagous (Solinas & Isidoro, 1991Isidoro et al, 1992) and one zoophagous species (van Lenteren et al, 2002).…”

“…In addition, there are several other ultra-structural features of the secretory cells, such as a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) that is widespread throughout the cytoplasm and Golgi complexes. The SER is known to produce fatty and oily products (Fawcett, 1966) and to be associated with the biosynthesis of volatile secretions (Quennedey, 1998). Hall et al (2012 suggest that fatty acids might be intermediates in the biosynthetic pathway of the sex pheromone components of species of Cecidomyiidae, as reported for many other insects (Percy-Cunningham & MacDonald, 1987;Tillman et al, 1999).…”

“…An alternative way of reducing the damage caused by this pest is to use resistant varieties of boxwood (D'Eustachio & Raupp, 2001). Another possibility is to use pheromone-based integrated pest management strategies, as is already used for other gall midges of economic importance (Gagné, 1989(Gagné, , 1994Harris & Foster, 1999;Hall et al, 2012).…”

“…The existence of female-produced sex pheromones has been demonstrated for 10 phytophagous species (Harris & Foster, 1999;Hall et al, 2012) and one zoophagous species (van Lenteren et al, 2002). The components of the female sex pheromones of 17 species of gall midges have also been identified and shown to attract conspecific males in field experiments and/or laboratory bioassays (Hall et al, 2012;Fitzpatrick et al, 2013). The sex pheromone gland is in the region of the ovipositor.…”