Journal of Entomological Science (2007) 42, 92-104

Qing-He Zhang, Kamlesh R. Chauhan, Aijun Zhang, Gordon L. Snodgrass, Joseph C. Dickens and Jeffrey R. Aldrich (2007)
Antennal and behavioral responses of Lygus lineolaris (Pallsot de Beauvois) (Heteroptera: Miridae) to metathoracic scent gland compounds
Journal of Entomological Science 42 (1), 92-104
Abstract: Hexyl and (E)-2-hexenyl butyrates and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenyl are major components of the metathoracic scent gland (MSG) secretion and aeration samples of many plant bugs (Miridae), including the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois). Laboratory and field experiments were performed (1) to determine the extent to which MSG-produced compounds are detected by antennae of L. lineolaris males and females, and (2) to elucidate the behavioral activity associated with the antennally active MSG compounds. The three major MSG-produced compounds elicited strong antennal responses by both sexes. In Y-track olfactometer tests, attraction of males to virgin females was significantly reduced when a dispenser loaded with hexyl butyrate was placed with the virgin females. Hexyl butyrate tested alone against a blank control significantly repelled males. In the field, ternary and partial binary combinations of these three EAD-active compounds failed to attract either sex, whereas virgin females attracted a significant number of males. However, addition of hexyl butyrate and/or (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate to virgin female-baited traps significantly reduced the number of males caught compared with the level of the blank control traps. This might be due either to a negative effect on pheromone release by the females or direct repellency of males, or both. These MSG compounds may be useful for mating disruption and other pest management tactics against economically important plant bugs.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Qing He Zhang, Jeffrey R. Aldrich, Joseph C. Dickens, Aijun Zhang

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Lygus lineolaris