Identification of human-derived volatile chemicals that interfere with attraction of the Scottish biting midge and their potential use as repellents.

The Scottish biting midge, Culicoides impunctatus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), is a major pest in Scotland, causing a significant impact to the Scottish tourist and forestry industries. C. impunctatus is a generalist feeder, preferring to feed on large mammals, and is notorious for its attacks on humans.

Vicia faba-Lygus rugulipennis interactions: induced plant volatiles and sex pheromone enhancement.

The profiles of volatile chemicals emitted by Vicia faba plants damaged by Lygus rugulipennis feeding, and by feeding plus oviposition, were shown to be quantitatively different from those released by undamaged plants. Samples of volatile chemicals collected from healthy plants, plants damaged by males as a consequence of feeding, plants damaged by females as a consequence of feeding and oviposition, plants damaged by feeding with mated males still present, and plants damaged by feeding and oviposition with gravid females still present, showed significant differences in the emission of hexyl acetate, (Z)-beta-ocimene, (E)-beta-ocimene, (E)-beta-caryophyllene, and methyl salicylate. In particular, treatments with mated females present on plants had a significant increase in emission levels of the above compounds, possibly due to eggs laid within plant tissues or active feeding, compared with undamaged plants and plants damaged by males feeding, with or without insects still present.

Dolichodial: a new aphid sex pheromone component?

The sex pheromones of many aphid species from the subfamily Aphididae comprise a mixture of the iridoids (cyclopentanoids) (1R,4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactol and (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone. In this paper, we investigate whether other chemicals, in addition to nepetalactol and nepetalactone, are released from Dysaphis plantaginea (rosy apple aphid) oviparae as part of their sex pheromone. Four compounds present in an air entrainment sample collected from D.

Antiectoparasitic activity of the gum resin, gum haggar, from the East African plant, Commiphora holtziana.

The mechanism of ixodid tick (Acari: Ixodidae) repellency by gum haggar, a resin produced by Commiphora holtziana (Burseraceae), was investigated by evaluating activity against the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus. In an arena bioassay, a hexane extract of the resin of C. holtziana exhibited a repellent effect lasting up to 5h.

Identification of human-derived volatile chemicals that interfere with attraction of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

It is known that human individuals show different levels of attractiveness to mosquitoes. In this study, we investigated the chemical basis for low attractiveness. We recorded behaviors of Aedes aegypti toward the hands of human volunteers and toward the volatile chemicals produced by their bodies.

Host recognition by the specialist hoverfly Microdon mutabilis, a social parasite of the ant Formica lemani.

The larva of the hoverfly Microdon mutabilis is a specialist social parasite of the ant Formica lemani that is adapted to local groups of F. lemani colonies but mal-adapted to colonies of the same species situated only a few hundred meters away. At a study site in Ireland, F.

Interactions between host-plant volatiles and the sex pheromones of the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi and the damson-hop aphid, Phorodon humuli.

The bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), and the damson-hop aphid, Phorodon humuli (Schrank), migrate at the same time of year and colonize closely related Prunus spp. as primary hosts, but utilize (1R,4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactol and (1RS,4aR,7S,7aS)-nepetalactol, respectively, as sex pheromones.

Development of a pheromone trap monitoring system for orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana, in the UK.

Field-trapping experiments with synthetic 2,7-nonadiyl dibutyrate, the female-produced sex pheromone of the orange wheat blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin), demonstrated that pheromone traps were highly attractive to males and caught very few non-target organisms. Different formulations of pheromone were tested to identify the optimum release rate and dispenser type for use in pheromone traps in the UK. Key findings were that racemic pheromone was as effective as enantiomerically pure (2S,7R)-2,7-nonadiyl dibutyrate, that release rates higher than 0.

Aphid alarm pheromone produced by transgenic plants affects aphid and parasitoid behavior.

The alarm pheromone for many species of aphids, which causes dispersion in response to attack by predators or parasitoids, consists of the sesquiterpene (E)-beta-farnesene (Ebetaf). We used high levels of expression in Arabidopsis thaliana plants of an Ebetaf synthase gene cloned from Mentha x piperita to cause emission of pure Ebetaf. These plants elicited potent effects on behavior of the aphid Myzus persicae (alarm and repellent responses) and its parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (an arrestant response).

Antennal electrophysiological responses of three parasitic wasps to caterpillar-induced volatiles from maize (Zea mays mays), cotton (Gossypium herbaceum), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata).

Many parasitic wasps are attracted to volatiles that are released by plants when attacked by potential hosts. The attractiveness of these semiochemicals from damaged plants has been demonstrated in many tritrophic systems, but the physiological mechanisms underlying the insect responses are poorly understood. We recorded the antennal perception by three parasitoids (Cotesia marginiventris, Microplitis rufiventris, and Campoletis sonorensis) to volatiles emitted by maize, cowpea, and cotton plants after attack by the common caterpillar pest Spodoptera littoralis.

Response of economically important aphids to components of Hemizygia petiolata essential oil.

The essential oil of Hemizygia petiolata Ashby (Lamiaceae) contains high levels (>70%) of the sesquiterpene (E)-beta-farnesene, the alarm pheromone for many economically important aphid species. In order to test the suitability of H. petiolata oil as a source of (E)-beta-farnesene for use in new integrated aphid control strategies, behavioural responses of pest aphid species were studied in laboratory and field experiments.

Insect host location: a volatile situation.

Locating a host plant is crucial for a phytophagous (herbivorous) insect to fulfill its nutritional requirements and to find suitable oviposition sites. Insects can locate their hosts even though the host plants are often hidden among an array of other plants. Plant volatiles play an important role in this host-location process.

Electroantennogram responses of the three migratory forms of the damson-hop aphid, Phorodon humuli, to aphid pheromones and plant volatiles.

Electroantennogram (EAG) responses were recorded from alate fundatrigeniae (spring migrants), gynoparae (the winged female form that produces sexual females) and males, the three migratory forms of the damson-hop aphid, Phorodon humuli (Schrank). EAG responses of gynoparae and males showed typical dose response characteristics to (E)-2-hexenal, (-)-R-carvone, hexanenitrile and (1RS,4aR,7S,7aS)-nepetalactol, the sex pheromone of this species. The 34 plant volatiles elicited broadly similar EAG response profiles in the three migratory forms.

Responses of female orange wheat Blossom midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana, to wheat panicle volatiles.

Air entrainment samples of volatiles from panicles of intact wheat, Triticum aestivum, cultivar 'Lynx' were collected at the ear emergence/early anthesis growth stage. In an olfactometer bioassay, both freshly cut panicles and an air entrainment sample were found to attract female orange wheat blossom midge adults, Sitodiplosis mosellana. Coupled gas chromatography-electroantennography (GC-EAG) analyses of panicle volatiles located six electrophysiologically active components.

Identification of two sex pheromone components of the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas).

Females of the potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae exhibit typical calling behavior, with virgin female oviparae raising their back legs off the substrate to release sex pheromone from glands on the tibia. Airborne collections from calling oviparae were analyzed by GC and GC-MS to determine if, like the majority of aphids examined to date, they produced (1R,4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactol (1) and (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone (2). Both components were present and produced in ratios that varied with age from 4:1 to 2:1.

Sex pheromone of the leaf-miner Phyllonorycter platani: (Z10)-tetradecenyl acetate.

A female produced sex pheromone of the leaf-miner pest Phyllonorycter platani (Staudinger) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) was identified as (Z10)-tetradecenyl acetate. Field trapping trials confirmed activity of this compound. The presence of the geometrical isomer (E10)-tetradecenyl acetate, a pheromone component of other Phyllonorycter species, reduced trap efficacy.

Responses of the aphids Phorodon humuli and Rhopalosiphum padi to sex pheromone stereochemistry in the field.

Gynoparous female and male damson-hop aphids, Phorodon humuli (Schrank), were caught in the field by water traps that were releasing the sex pheromone of this species, (1RS,4aR,7S,7aS)-nepetalactol. No behavioral activity was elicited by (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone, the major sex pheromone component of other aphid species such as Megoura viciae Buckton, even though olfactory cells were found in the secondary rhinaria on the third antennal segment of P. humuli that responded strongly to this compound.

cis-Jasmone treatment induces resistance in wheat plants against the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Homoptera: Aphididae).

cis-Jasmone is a plant volatile known to have roles as an insect semiochemical and in inducing plant defence. It was evaluated in laboratory and field trials for control of cereal aphids. In an olfactometer bioassay cis-jasmone was repellent to alatae of the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Homoptera: Aphididae).

Isoflavanones from the allelopathic aqueous root exudate of Desmodium uncinatum.

Three isoflavanones, 5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxy-6-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)isoflavanone (1), 4",5"-dihydro-5,2',4'-trihydroxy-5"-isopropenylfurano-(2",3";7,6)-isoflavanone (2) and 4",5"-dihydro-2'-methoxy-5,4'-dihydroxy-5"-isopropenylfurano-(2",3";7,6)-isoflavanone (3) and a previously known isoflavone 5,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone [genistein (4)] were isolated and characterised spectroscopically from the root exudate of the legume Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) DC. We propose the names uncinanone A, B, and C for compounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

Role of semiochemicals in mate location by parasitic sea louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis.

The role of olfaction and diffusible pheromones in mate location behavior of sea lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, was assessed with Y-tube behavioral bioassays. The pheromone "emitting" animals were located in a chamber in one arm of a Y-tube arena, with artificial seawater flowing through both arms. Adult male sea lice displayed both activation and directional responses to seawater conditioned with preadult II virgin females, but were only activated by mated adult female conditioned water.

Control of witchweed Striga hermonthica by intercropping with Desmodium spp., and the mechanism defined as allelopathic.

During investigations into the control of insect damage to maize crops in subsistence farming in Kenya, which involved intercropping with repellent plants, the fodder legumes silverleaf (Desmodium uncinatum) and greenleaf (D. intortum) were also found to reduce dramatically the infestation of maize by parasitic witchweeds such as Striga hermonthica. This effect was confirmed by further field testing and shown to be significantly greater than that observed with other legumes, e.

Semiochemical strategies for sea louse control: host location cues.

The development of behavioural bioassays and electrophysiological recording techniques has enabled the role of semiochemicals to be investigated for the first time in Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer). Adult male sea lice L salmonis were activated by, and attracted to, salmon-conditioned water (SCW) and SCW extract. Non-host fish odours, turbot-conditioned water (TCW) and turbot-conditioned water extract (TCW extract), elicited activation but no attraction in the lice.

Encoding of host and non-host plant odours by receptor neurones in the eucalyptus woodborer, Phoracantha semipunctata (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

In the eucalyptus woodborer, Phoracantha semipunctata, responses from single receptor neurones to host ( Eucalyptus globulus) and non-host ( Pinus pinaster, Olea europeae) plant odours were examined, using gas chromatography linked with electrophysiological recordings. Thirty-two compounds elicited responses that appeared as increased firing rates correlating with the elution of the active components. A subset of neurones classified as type A ( n=17) responded to one compound, a second subset B ( n=15) responded to two compounds and a third subset C ( n=9) responded to three or more compounds.