Chemical Nature And Persistence Of The Oviposition Deterring Pheromone In The Tracks Of The Larvae Of The Two Spot Ladybird, Adalia Bipunctata (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae)
2001
Hemptinne, Jl. | Lognay, Georges | Doumbia, M. | Dixon, Afg.
Aphidophagous ladybirds are reluctant to oviposit in patches of prey where conspecific larvae are present. This is adaptive as larval cannibalism is a major threat to egg survival. Ladybirds avoid laying eggs in such patches by responding to a species specific oviposition deterring pheromone present in the tracks of larvae. This study revealed that the oviposition deterringpheromone consists of a mixture of alkanes of which n-pentacosane is the major component (15.1%). These alkanes are likely to spread easily on the hydrophobic cuticle of plants and so leave a large signal. In addition, they are not quickly oxidized and therefore provide a long lasting signal. The latter was confirmed by the observation that 10 day old tracks still deterred oviposition.
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