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Sexual dimorphism in the olfactory orientation of adult Cydia pomonella in response to α‐farnesene
Author(s) -
Hern Alan,
Dorn Silvia
Publication year - 1999
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.1570-7458.1999.00525.x
Subject(s) - codling moth , tortricidae , biology , lepidoptera genitalia , dose , sex pheromone , sexual dimorphism , attraction , odor , botany , zoology , linguistics , philosophy , neuroscience , pharmacology
The role of host plant‐derived volatile substances on the behaviour of adult codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is poorly understood. We tested the response of females and males to a range of α‐farnesene dosages. Natural α‐farnesene from apples contains the E,E and Z,E isomers in varying proportions. No difference in the response of C. pomonella to preparations containing two different proportions of the E,E and Z,E isomers was noted (77:20.7 or 1.2:84.7% E,E and Z,E isomers respectively), indicating a similar bioactivity of E,E and Z,E α‐farnesene on codling moth. A marked sexual dimorphism was found to increasing dosages of α‐farnesene. Females were attracted to low dosages (starting from 63.4 ng) and repelled by high dosages (ending at 12 688 ng). The dose response over this concentration range was linear with a negative slope. Both mated and virgin females responded similarly in kind but differently in degree, both attraction and repellency being more pronounced in mated females. Males were neither attracted nor repelled over a large dose range (63.4 to 12 688 ng) except the highest rate which was attractive. This indicates a stronger dependency of females on plant‐derived volatiles.