Journal of Chemical Ecology (2000) 26, 1433-1445

Bernhard Weissbecker, Joop J.A. Van Loon, Maarten A. Posthumus, Harro J. Bouwmeester and Marcel Dicke (2000)
Identification of volatile potato sesquiterpenoids and their olfactory detection by the two-spotted stinkbug Perillus bioculatus
Journal of Chemical Ecology 26 (6), 1433-1445
Abstract: The predaceous stinkbug Perillus bioculatus is attracted towards volatiles emitted by damaged potato plants. Whereas mechanically damaged plants lost attractiveness 1 h after damage was inflicted, attraction was long-lasting when the plants were damaged by Colorado potato beetles Leptinotarsa decemlineata, a prey of P. bioculatus. A range of sesquiterpenoids was previously shown to be induced upon beetle damage. In order to evaluate the potential role of sesquiterpenoids in the attraction response, volatiles from damaged potato plants were collected and analyzed with GC-MS and GC-EAG. The antennae of P. bioculatus responded to ß- caryophyllene, alpha- humulene, (E)-ß- farnesene, (-)-germacrene D, and germacrene D-4-ol. Two sesquiterpenes that coeluted, alpha-zingiberene and bicyclogermacrene, together also elicited olfactory responses of P. bioculatus, whereas the individual compounds did not. The response of P. bioculatus to a variety of sesquiterpenes at low dosages suggests a role for these compounds in prey detection of this stinkbug.
(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): Joop J.A. van Loon, Marcel Dicke

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Leptinotarsa decemlineata	Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
Perillus bioculatus (predator)	Leptinotarsa decemlineata	Potato (Solanum tuberosum)