Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Alarm pheromone eliciting attack and escape responses in the sugar cane woolly aphid,Ceratovacuna lanigera (Homoptera, Pemphigidae)

  • Published:
Journal of Ethology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

All nymphal stages and apterous adults ofCeratovacuna lanigera secreted droplets containing an alarm pheromone from their abdominal cornicles when stimulated with a pin. When fresh droplets on piece of filter paper were put near the aphids, 1st-instar nymphs originating from apterous adults attacked it, but the advanced instar nymphs and adults escaped from the spot. Nymphs and adults originating from alate adults showed escaping behavior only. These different responses strongly correlated with morphological differences, such as relative lengths of the frontal horns and legs. When a syrphid larva,Allograpta javana, was placed on a colony of aphids, many 1st-instar nymphs attacked it using their frontal horns. During the attack, these nymphs spontaneously secreted droplets and adhered them to the syrphid body. When these droplets were placed on the body, the syrphid larva was agressively attacked by additional 1st-instar nymphs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aoki, S. 1977Colophina clematis (Homoptera, Pemphigidae), an aphid species with “soldiers”.Kontyû 45: 276–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aoki, S. 1978 Two pemphigids with first instar larvae attacking predatory intruders (Homoptera, Aphidoidea).New Entmol.27: 67–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aoki, S. 1979 Further observations onAstegopteryx styracicola (Homoptera, Pemphigidae), an aphid species with soldiers biting man.Kontyû 47: 99–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aoki, S., S. Akimoto & S. K. Yamane 1981 Observations onPseudoregma alexanderi (Homoptera, Pemphigidae), an aphid species producing pseudoscorpion-like soldiers on bamboos.Kontyû 49: 355–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aoki, S., U. Kurosu 1987 Is aphid attack really effective against predators? A case study ofCeratovacuna lanigera. In: J. Holman, J. Pelikan, A.F.G. Dixon & L. Weismann (eds.)Population structure, genetics and taxonomy of aphids and Thysanoptera. pp. 224–232. SPB Academic Publ., The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aoki, S., U. Kurosu & U. Usuba 1984 First instar larvae of the sugar-cane woolly aphid,Ceratovacuna lanigera (Homoptera, Pemphigidae), attack its predators.Kontyû 52: 458–460.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blum, M. S. 1969 Alarm pheromones.Ann. Rev. Ent. 18: 349–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blum, M. S. 1977 Behavioral responses of Hymenoptera to pheromones and allomones. Chemical control of insect behavior. In: H. H. Shorey & John J. Mckelvey, Jr. (eds.)Chemical control of insect behavior. pp. 149–167. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher B. S. & T. E. Bellas 1988 Pheromones of Hemiptera, Blattodea, Orthoptera, Mecoptera, other Insects and Acari. In: E. D. Morgan & N. B. Mandava (eds.)CRC Handbook of natural pesticide: Vol. 4 Pheromone. pp. 207–271. CRC Press, Inc. Boca Raton, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fujisaki, K. 1975 Breakup and re-formation of colony in the first instar larvae of the winter cherry bug,Acanthocoris sordidus Thunberg (Hemiptera: Coreidae), in relation to the defence against their enemies.Res. Popul. Ecol. 16: 252–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, W. D. 1964 The genetical evolution of social behaviour, I & II.J. theoret. Biol. 7: 1–52.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ishiwatari, T. 1974 Studies on the scent of stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). I. Alarm pheromone activity.Appl. Entmol. Zool. 9: 153–158.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kislow, C. J. & L. J. Edwards 1972 Repellent odour in aphids.Nature (London) 235: 108–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, R. W. & J. R. Matthews 1978 Chemical comunication. In:Insect behavior. pp. 176–233. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyazaki, M. 1987 Forms and morphs of aphids, In: A. K. Minks & P. Harrewijin (eds.)Aphids, their biology, natural enemies and control. pp. 27–50. Elsevier Science Publishers, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shorey, H. H. 1973 Behavioral responses to insect pheromones.Ann. Rev. Ent. 18: 349–380.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takano, S. 1934 On the morphology and biology ofCeratovacuna lanigera Zehntner, and the relation of its outbreak to environmental conditions in Formosa.J. Formosan sug. Pl. Ass. 11: 481–528. (In Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Okinawa Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station, 4-222 Sakiyama-cho, Naha, 903, Okinawa, Japan

    Norio Arakaki

Authors
  1. Norio Arakaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Arakaki, N. Alarm pheromone eliciting attack and escape responses in the sugar cane woolly aphid,Ceratovacuna lanigera (Homoptera, Pemphigidae). J. Ethol. 7, 83–90 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02350028

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02350028

Keywords

Search

Navigation