Role of (E)-beta-farnesene in systematic aphid prey location by Episyrphus balteatus larvae (Diptera: Syrphidae)
Francis, F.(Gembloux Agricultural Univ. (Belgium))E-mail:[email protected] | Martin, T. | Lognay, G. | Haubruge, E.
In this work, chemical cues from different aphids and plants, each alone or in association, were studied to elucidate their role in prey location. Using a four-arm olfactometer, attraction of combinations of three aphid (Megoura viciae, Acyrthosiphon pisum and Aphis fabae) and one plant (Vicia faba) species for Episyrphus balteatus larvae was observed. Hoverfly larvae were attracted by all tested stimuli in the presence of aphids, whatever the species. Whole or crushed aphids and also aphids on bean plant parts were attractive to syrphid larvae, but the host plant alone did not present any infochemical role. Identification and quantification of the volatile releases from aphid and plant species, alone or in association, were performed using SPME and GC-MS methods. Aphid alarm pheromone, (E)-beta-farnesene, was found in the volatile pattern of each aphid and was tested for its role as an effective kairomone for the hoverfly.
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