Journal of Applied Entomology (2007) 131, 326-332

H.R.S. Moayeri, A. Ashouri, L. Poll and A. Enkegaard (2007)
Olfactory response of a predatory mirid to herbivore induced plant volatiles: multiple herbivory vs. single herbivory
Journal of Applied Entomology 131 (5), 326-332
Abstract: Plants infested with a single herbivore species can attract natural enemies through the emission of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). However, under natural conditions plants are often attacked by more than one herbivore species. We investigated the olfactory response of a generalist predators Macrolophus caliginosus to pepper infested with two-spotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae, or green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, vs. plants infested with both herbivore species in a Y-tube olfactometer set up. In addition, the constituents of volatile blends from plants exposed to multiple or single herbivory were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The mirid bugs showed a stronger response to volatiles emitted from plants simultaneously infested with spider mites and aphids than to those emitted from plants infested by just one herbivore, irrespective of the species. Combined with results from previous studies under similar conditions we infer that this was a reaction to herbivore induced plant volatiles. The GC-MS analysis showed that single herbivory induced the release of 22 additional compounds as compared with the volatiles emitted from clean plants. Quantitative analyses revealed that the amount of volatile blends emitted from pepper infested by both herbivores was significantly higher than that from pepper infested by a single herbivore. Moreover, two unique substances were tentatively identified (with a probability of 94% and 91%, respectively) in volatiles emitted by multiple herbivory damaged plants: alpha-zingiberene and dodecyl acetate.
(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): Ahmad Ashouri

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Myzus persicae	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)
	Tetranychus urticae	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)
Macrolophus melanotoma (predator)	Myzus persicae	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)
Macrolophus melanotoma (predator)	Tetranychus urticae	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)