Plant volatiles affect oviposition by codling moths

摘要: Oviposition in wild codling moth females, collected as overwintering larvae from apple, pear and walnut, was stimulated by volatiles fruit-bearing green branches of these respective hostplants. Analysis headspace collections showed that eight compounds present walnut elicited a reliable antennal response females: (E)-β-ocimene, 4,8-dimethyl-1,(E)3,7-nonatriene, (Z)3-hexenyl acetate, nonanal, β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, (E,E)-α-farnesene, methyl salicylate. Any one is found many other non-host plants, host recognition thus likely encoded blend volatiles. A large variation the proportion released suggests considerable plasticity female to plant odours. Wild field, laid significantly fewer eggs absence The offspring however, reared on semi-artificial diet laboratory, with or without volatile stimulus. Tests individual females this rapid change oviposition behaviour may be explained selection for which oviposit odour stimuli, rather than preimaginal conditioning insects when rearing them diet. bioassays using laboratory-reared are therefore not suitable identify stimulate egglaying females.