Phytoparasitica (2009) 37, 217-224

Nimet Sema Gencer, Nabi Alper Kumral, H. Ozkan Sivritepe, Melis Seidi, Hilal Susurluk and Bulent Senturk (2009)
Olfactory response of the ladybird beetle Stethorus gilvifrons to two preys and herbivore-induced plant volatiles
Phytoparasitica 37 (3), 217-224
Abstract: The spider mites Tetranychus urticae Koch and Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Tetranychidae) cause severe economic losses to vegetable farms and deciduous fruit orchards in Turkey. One of their predators, the ladybird beetle Stethorus gilvifrons (Muls.) (Col., Coccinellidae), aggregates on mite-infested patches of plants. The present study assessed whether there is a role for herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) and/or odors emitted directly from these two mite species in the aggregative response of ladybird beetles. The olfactory responses of the predator females to volatiles from T. urticae- and/or P. ulmi-infested sweet pepper (four cultivars, viz. 'Demre', 'Yalova Carliston', 'Kandil Dolma' and 'Yag Biberi'), kidney bean (cv. 'Barbunya') and apple (M9 rootstock) were investigated using a two-choice olfactometer. Our results showed that HIPVs emitted from both T. urticae- and P. ulmi-infested plants significantly attracted S. gilvifrons adults for all plants except the sweet pepper cv. Yag Biberi. In addition, it was found that volatiles from apple plants infested by T. urticae and, especially, P. ulmi are more attractive for S. gilvifrons females than those emitted by other infested plants. The results also suggest that the odors of T. urticae adults and their products might influence the attraction of S. gilvifrons females.
(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): Nimet Sema Gencer, Nabi Alper Kumral

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Panonychus ulmi		Turkey
	Tetranychus urticae		Turkey
Stethorus gilvifrons (predator)	Panonychus ulmi		Turkey
Stethorus gilvifrons (predator)	Tetranychus urticae		Turkey