Arthropod-Plant Interactions (2022) 16, 45-52

Keita Higashida, Eizi Yano, Junji Takabayashi, Rika Ozawa and Kinuyo Yoneya (2022)
Volatiles from eggplants infested by Aphis gossypii induce oviposition behavior in the aphidophagous gall midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza
Arthropod-Plant Interactions 16 (1), 45-52
Abstract: Oviposition by aphidophagous predators is triggered by semiochemicals emitted from aphids and host plants, such as volatile chemicals from host plants infested by aphids and from honeydew and aphid alarm pheromones. Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is a common, widely distributed aphidophagous predator that is used as a biological agent to control aphids in greenhouses. Previous work showed that a volatile chemical emitted from honeydew produced by Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) attracted adult female A. aphidimyza, and identified it as phenylacetaldehyde. There are no known oviposition stimulants for A. aphidimyza females and the function of herbivory-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) produced by eggplants infested by A. gossypii is not clear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of HIPVs from eggplants induced by A. gossypii infestation and volatile chemicals in honeydew produced by A. gossypii on the oviposition of A. aphidimyza in bioassay cages. We found that HIPVs from A. gossypii-infested eggplants-induced oviposition. Moreover, using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, we identified 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, nonanal, and decanal as the HIPVs from eggplants. A mixture of these three compounds-induced oviposition of significantly more eggs than the control, but fewer eggs than the eggplant–aphid complex. Honeydew did not induce oviposition of significantly more eggs than the control. In conclusion, oviposition by A. aphidimyza females was induced by HIPVs from A. gossypii-infested eggplants. But the statistical difference in the number of oviposited eggs between the honeydew treatment and uninfested eggplant was not significant.
(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): Eizi Yano, Junji Takabayashi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment/habitat manipulation

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aphis gossypii	Eggplant (Solanum melongena)	Japan
Aphidoletes aphidimyza (predator)	Aphis gossypii	Eggplant (Solanum melongena)