VOC emissions influence intra- and interspecific interactions among stored-product Coleoptera in paddy rice

Abstract

Olfaction is a pivotal sense for insects and granivorous pests may exploit grain volatiles for food selection. Tribolium confusum, is a secondary pest of stored cereals that benefits from primary pests’ infestation, as other secondary feeders, triggering competition. This study aimed to evaluate the preferences of T. confusum females toward different-infested paddy rice, highlighting the impact of intra- and interspecific competition. Tribolium confusum showed positive chemotaxis toward rice infested by larvae of a primary pest (Sitophilus zeamais), but not for grain attacked by adults alone. Furthermore, kernels concurrently infested by a primary (S. zeamais) and a secondary pest (T. confusum or Cryptolestes ferrugineus) were evaluated in Y-tube bioassays, highlighting that both food-sources were innately attractive for T. confusum females. Moreover, females positively oriented toward rice infested by conspecifics, while they avoided grain infested by C. ferrugineus, averting an extremely competitive habitat. Behavioural responses of T. confusum females and volatile emissions of different-infested rice highlighted the occurrence of plant-mediated interactions among insects from the same trophic guild. Seventy volatiles were identified and significant differences among the tested food-sources were recorded, emphasizing the presence of 6 putative attractants and 6 repellents, which may be useful biocontrol tools.

Potential of cold plasma to control Callosobruchus chinensis (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) in chickpea cultivars during four year storage

“…Thus the Increased concentrations of the essential oil reduced the instantaneous rate of population growth, rate of development, oviposition, and the number of eggs of C. maculatus , and therefore they have the potential for pest control 18 . Seventy volatiles were identified from which the six putative attractants and 6 repellents were emerged out, useful biocontrol tools 41 .…”

Volatile Infochemicals from Rhyzopertha dominica Larvae and Larval Feces Involved in Theocolax elegans Host Habitat Location

“…These studies provided no information about the VOC emitted by the tested rice substrates. However, the presence of specific molecules emitted by rice kernels in response to pest infestation has been investigated by recent research on the ecological interactions among three stored product pests (i.e., S. zeamais, Tribolium confusum du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae)) [44].…”

Potential of Cold Plasma to Control Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in Chickpea Cultivars during Four Year Storage

“…Thus the Increased concentrations of the essential oil reduced the instantaneous rate of population growth, rate of development, oviposition, and the number of eggs of C. maculatus, and therefore they have the potential for pest control 18 . Seventy volatiles were identi ed from which the 6 putative attractants and 6 repellents were emerged out, useful biocontrol tools 41 .…”