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Behavioural responses of the carrot fly larva, Psila rosae , to carrot root volatiles
Author(s) -
RYAN M. F.,
GUERIN P. M.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
physiological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-3032
pISSN - 0307-6962
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3032.1982.tb00304.x
Subject(s) - biology , methyl eugenol , larva , botany , eugenol , daucus carota , steam distillation , horticulture , essential oil , tephritidae , pest analysis , chemistry , organic chemistry
. The behaviour of the carrot fly larva, Psila rosae F. (Diptera, Psilidae), was investigated in the presence of six concentrations of thirty‐four volatiles associated with carrot root and of trans ‐methyl‐iso‐eugenol, a constituent of carrot herb oil. Bomyl acetate, 2,4‐dimethyl styrene, α‐ionone, SbT‐ionone and biphenyl were the most consistently preferred compounds. Klinotaxis and klinokinesis were the orientation responses near the stimulus source. Trans ‐2‐nonenal was the most consistently avoided compound. Extracts derived by steam distillation of carrot roots and by concentration of vapour from roots were resolved, by gas liquid chromatography, into forty‐five and twenty‐two major constituents, respectively. The five preferred compounds are micro‐components of these extracts, collectively representing 1% and 0.6% of root extract oil and vapour, respectively. It is suggested that these secondary plant constituents are specific host finding cues for the larva, and that frara‐2‐nonenal is a carrot defence compound.