Journal of Applied Entomology (2012) 136, 476-480

Angela N. Gadino, Vaughn M. Walton and Jana C. Lee (2012)
Olfactory response of Typhlodromus pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to synthetic methyl salicylate in laboratory bioassays
Journal of Applied Entomology 136 (6), 476-480
Abstract: The herbivore-induced plant volatile (HIPV) methyl salicylate (MeSA) is widely present in the chemical profile of several plant species and is known to attract natural enemies, including predatory mites. In this study, the response of Typhlodromus pyri, a key predator of pest mites in west coast vineyards, to synthetically produced MeSA was tested using a Y-tube olfactometer in laboratory bioassays. Six doses ranging from 0.002 to 200 μg of MeSA diluted in 0.1 ml hexane were tested. Significantly higher proportions of T. pyri preferred MeSA at doses 0.02, 0.2 and 20 μg. No differences in response to MeSA were detected at the highest (200 μg), intermediate (2 μg) and lowest (0.002 μg) doses. Mite response to MeSA was a function of dose when fitting polynomial and logistic regression models using dose and square of the log dose prediction factors. Results indicate that synthetic MeSA may be applied to attract predatory arthropod populations in vineyards to enhance biological control of pest mites.
(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): Jana C. Lee, Vaughn Martin Walton

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.
Typhlodromus pyri (predator)