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Behavioral cues associated with oviposition by Trioza eugeniae
Author(s) -
Luft Patrick A.,
Paine Timothy D.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1046/j.1570-7458.1997.00226.x
Subject(s) - biology , syzygium , botany , ovipositor , pest analysis , sex pheromone , horticulture , pheromone , hymenoptera
Trioza eugeniae oviposited significantly more eggs on Syzygium paniculatum leaves free of eggs compared to leaves with pre‐existing eggs in a choice experiment, suggesting that females modify oviposition based on cues associated with the presence of eggs. In separate experiments, females avoided ovipositing on parts of leaves where eggs were present, but readily oviposited on areas of the same leaf without eggs. Epideictic pheromones are apparently not used by this species because females readily oviposited on areas of a leaf from which eggs had previously been removed. Females laid 57% of all their eggs along the margins of normal leaves, but also oviposited on artificial margins produced by cutting the leaves. The preference for natural margins over artificial margins was eliminated when the entire margin was coated with an antitranspirant compound to mask the damaged edge. These studies show that ovipositing psyllids respond both to the presence of eggs and to the suitability of the substrate.