Premium
Physical and chemical cues affect oviposition by Neoleucinodes elegantalis
Author(s) -
TELES PONTES WENDEL J.,
RODRIGUES LIMA ERALDO,
CUNHA ERIVELTON G.,
TEIXEIRA DE ANDRADE PEDRO M.,
PINHEIRO LÔBO AILTON,
BARROS REGINALDO
Publication year - 2010
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.1365-3032.2010.00720.x
Subject(s) - biology , sensory cue , lepidoptera genitalia , crambidae , affect (linguistics) , pest analysis , olfactory cues , host (biology) , preference , stimulus modality , sensory system , botany , communication , ecology , olfaction , psychology , neuroscience , mathematics , statistics
Recognition and acceptance of a suitable host plant by phytophagous insects requires the integration of visual, physical and chemical cues. The present study investigates the host cues that a specialist insect integrates to optimize oviposition decisions and whether these cues are weighted in a specific way. The study also determines whether the tomato fruit borer Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), an important pest on Solanaceae in Brazil, shows a preference for oviposition sites that differ in physical and/or chemical cues. When styrofoam balls are provided as artificial fruits, N. elegantalis deposit significantly more eggs on rough artificial fruits than on smooth ones. Hexane fruit extracts applied to the artificial fruits stimulate female oviposition strongly. Physical and chemical cues also affect the oviposition of females when offered together. Furthermore, certain parts of the artificial fruits are prefered, irrespective of the presence of chemical cues. Both physical and chemical cues affect oviposition decisions; hence, the fruit borer relies on cues of different sensory modalities.