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Plant Volatiles Influence Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of Lygus hesperus

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Abstract

Previous laboratory studies have shown that the mirid Lygus hesperus is attracted to volatiles emitted from alfalfa; feeding damage increases the amounts of several of these volatiles, and visual cues can enhance attraction further. The present study tested single plant volatiles in electrophysiological and behavioral trials with L. hesperus. Electroantennogram (EAG) analyses indicated that antennae responded to most plant volatiles included in the test, and that when gender differences were observed, males usually were more responsive than females. Antennal responses to the alcohols ((E)-3-hexenol, (Z)-3-hexenol, 1-hexanol), the acetate (E)-2-hexenyl acetate, and the aldehyde (E)-2-hexenal were among the strongest. Moderate responses were observed for (E)-β-ocimene, (E,E)-α-farnesene, (±)-linalool, and methyl salicylate. A dose dependent response was not observed for several terpenes (β-myrcene, β-caryophyllene, (+)-limonene, or both (R)-(+)- and (S)-(−)-α-pinenes). EAG responses, however, were not always consistent with behavioral assays. In Y-tube bioassays, males did not exhibit a positive behavioral response to any of the compounds tested. Instead, males were repelled by (E)-2-hexenyl acetate, (±)-linalool, (E,E)-α-farnesene, and methyl salicylate. In contrast, female L. hesperus moved upwind towards (R)-(+)-α-pinene, (E)-β-ocimene, and (E,E)-α-farnesene, and showed a negative response towards (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (S)-(−)-α-pinene, and methyl salicylate. This study emphasizes the use of multiple approaches to better understand host plant finding in the generalist herbivore L. hesperus.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to S. C. Castle del Conte, A. A. Faulkner, L. Jech, L. Lee, C. Li, W. Price, and K. Shope for technical assistance. We thank J. A. Byers, J. R. Hagler, and anonymous reviewers for critical and helpful comments on the manuscript. This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation by the USDA for its use. The U. S. Government has the right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS Exotic and Invasive Weeds Research Unit, 920 Valley Rd., Reno, NV, 89512, USA

    Livy Williams III

  2. USDA-ARS Pest Management and Biological Control Research Unit, 21881 N. Cardon Lane, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA

    Jacquelyn L. Blackmer

  3. Department of Entomology, Philip E. Marucci Blueberry and Cranberry Research Center, Rutgers University, 125a Lake Oswego, Chatsworth, NJ, 08019, USA

    Cesar Rodriguez-Saona

  4. Department of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    Su Zhu

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  1. Livy Williams III
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  2. Jacquelyn L. Blackmer
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Correspondence to Livy Williams III.

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Jacquelyn L. Blackmer: Deceased

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Williams, L., Blackmer, J.L., Rodriguez-Saona, C. et al. Plant Volatiles Influence Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of Lygus hesperus . J Chem Ecol 36, 467–478 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-010-9778-2

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