Journal of Insect Behavior (1995) 8, 801-811

L.M. Poirier and J.H. Borden (1995)
Oral exudate as a mediator of behavior in larval eastern and western spruce budworms (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
Journal of Insect Behavior 8 (6), 801-811
Abstract: The production of oral exudate by larval eastern and western spruce budworms, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) and Choristoneura occidentalis Free., respectively, was investigated in the laboratory. All larvae except those entering into a molt exhibited aggressive behavior and produced exudate in response to handling or intraspecific encounters. Larvae could be induced to produce exudate up to four times over 2-3 min and produced an average of 1.92±0.04 µl (X ± SE) per induction. Larvae on foliage spent much of their time maintaining their silken feeding tunnel, including spinning and combing silk and removing frass. Exposure to conspecific oral exudate deposited inside the tunnel, or released by agitated larvae inside the tunnel, increased the proportion of larvae that dispersed away from the tunnels and, apparently, increased the larval sensitivity to disturbances. The behavior induced by the oral exudate indicates that it acts as an epideictic (spacing) pheromone.
(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): John H. Borden

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Choristoneura fumiferana
	Choristoneura freemani