Plant volatiles mediate orientation and plant preference by the predator Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-20-2002

Abstract

Control of the red spider mite, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher (Acari: Tetranychidae), using the predator Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is common in integrated pest management programs of vegetable crops such as eggplant (Solanum melongena), okra (Abelmoschus esculents), and peppers (Capsicum annum), but not on tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum). A study was conducted to test whether plant volatiles mediate the adult orientation behavior of C. carnea on these four crops. The olfactory response of C. carnea to volatiles from several vegetable host plants of its prey, T. ludeni, was investigated in a Y-tube olfactometer. Volatiles emitted by eggplant, okra, and peppers elicited a positive behavioral response from both C. carnea males and females in an olfactometer. Volatiles emitted by mite-infested plants elicited stronger behavioral responses in C. carnea males and females than uninfested healthy plants. Odors from mechanically damaged plants and plants with mite damage only attracted the predators. However, odors emanating from mites alone did not evoke any response from C. carnea. In contrast, C. carnea did not respond to volatiles from uninfested healthy tomato plants or mites with or without damaged plants or mechanically damaged tomato plants. Therefore, the results suggest that odors from eggplant, okra, and peppers are attractive to C. carnea, while odors from tomato are not. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Biological Control

First Page

49

Last Page

55

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