Journal of Chemical Ecology (2007) 33, 2148-2155
François J. Verheggen, Quentin Fagel, Stéphanie Heuskin, Georges Lognay, Frédéric Francis and Eric Haubruge (2007)
Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis Pallas, to sesquiterpene semiochemicals
Journal of Chemical Ecology 33 (11), 2148-2155
Abstract: The role of two volatile sesquiterpenes, (E)-ß-farnesene and (−)-ß-caryophyllene, in the chemical ecology of the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis Pallas, was investigated by using both electrophysiological and behavioral techniques. (E)-ß-Farnesene is the major component of the alarm pheromone of most aphid species, which are preyed on by H. axyridis. (−)-ß-Caryophyllene was previously isolated from the headspace volatiles above overwintering and aggregated H. axyridis females. These sesquiterpenes elicited significant electroantennogram (EAG) activity from both H. axyridis male and female antennae. In a four-arm olfactometer, male and female H. axyridis were highly attracted toward (E)-ß-farnesene, whereas only males were attracted to (−)-ß-caryophyllene. In a bioassay technique that used a passively ventilated plastic box, both male and female H. axyridis aggregated in the (−)-ß-caryophyllene-treated side of the box. These results support the potential usefulness of (E)-ß-farnesene and (−)-ß-caryophyllene in push-pull strategies that use H. axyridis as a biological control agent in aphid-infested sites or to control this new urban pest in residential structures.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): François J. Verheggen, Frédéric Francis
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
application technology
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harmonia axyridis (predator) |
