Volatile attractants for three Pteromalid parasitoids attacking concealed spruce bark beetles

Summary. The odour perceptive abilities, and preferences, of three bark beetle parasitoid species; Rhopalicus tutela (Walker), Roptrocerus mirus (Walker), and Roptrocerus xylophagorum (Ratzeburg) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), were investigated to isolate and identify the essential compounds involved in host location. These parasitoids attack several economically important bark beetle species and oviposit preferentially on late larval stages concealed under the bark of conifers. Odours were collected from Norway spruce logs (Picea abies L. Karst.) containing Ips typographus L. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) larvae. Biologically active compounds were isolated by coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD), and identified by GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Based on these analyses, four different synthetic baits were prepared and tested in a Y-tube walking bioassay. In the complex odour samples from spruce logs, only 16 compounds were EAD-active. The tested R. tutela and R. mirus females displayed similar trends in antennal activity to EAD-active compounds, responding mainly to oxygenated monoterpenes that indicate damaged conifers. Consequently, the synthetic baits were exclusively prepared with oxygenated monoterpenes. Parasitoid females (R. tutela and R. mirus) preferred spruce logs containing susceptible hosts over fresh logs, while male parasitoids (R. mirus) did not show any preference. However, when odours from fresh logs were mixed with synthetic baits (mimicking the odour composition of logs containing susceptible hosts), these combinations attracted female parasitoids (R. tutela, R. mirus, and R. xylophagorum). All synthetic baits seemed to be equally attractive to female parasitoids. Received 12 October 2000; accepted 18 January 2001     

Chemical characterization of contact semiochemicals for host-recognition and host-acceptance by the specialist parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cotesia plutellae</Emphasis> (Kurdjumov)

Summary. Cotesia plutellae is a specialist parasitoid of Plutella xylostella. This specificity is potentially under the control of several factors before and after oviposition. Thereby, the stimuli that lead female parasitoids to host locations and to oviposition, might be at the basis of the specificity. We explore here the response of C. plutellae females exposed to host cuticular lipids. A total cuticular lipid extract of host caterpillars was fractionated into a hydrocarbon fraction and a non-hydrocarbon fraction. Neither fraction alone had any effect on oviposition behaviour in C. plutellae but the hydrocarbon fraction alone did seem to have a positive effect on the rate of antennal contact by the females. To induce oviposition behaviour, both fractions were necessary and reflect cooperation between at least one compound in each fraction. Identification of cuticular lipids shows that hydrocarbons were dominant (77%). Non-hydrocarbon compounds were mainly represented by 15-nonacosanone (18% of the total lipid extract). This ketone is rare in insect cuticle lipids and is thought to originate from the cabbage epicuticle where it is dominant with n-C₂₉ and 14- and 15-nonacosanol also found among the cuticular lipids of the host caterpillar.     

镉胁迫对不同镉富集能力海水养殖贝类抗氧化能力的影响——以扇贝和菲律宾蛤仔为例

为研究具有不同镉(Cd)富集能力的扇贝和菲律宾蛤仔在相同镉胁迫环境下的抗氧化能力反应的差异,将2种贝类于0.05mg·L-1Cd环境中暴露10 d,分别于第0天、2天、4天、6天、8天、10天分别取样检测内脏团中SOD、CAT、GPx、GST酶活性和GSH含量,同时分析内脏团中Cd的含量。结果表明,对于Cd胁迫组,扇贝和菲律宾蛤仔内脏团中SOD和CAT酶活反应相似,均呈先被诱导后被抑制的规律,且2种贝类的SOD和CAT活性差异较小。2种贝类内脏团中GSH含量、GST和GPx活性变化差异较大:扇贝内脏团中GSH含量显著降低(p0.05),GST和GPx活性均在第2天和第4天时处于显著诱导状态(p0.05),从第6天时处于抑制状态,而菲律宾蛤仔内脏团中GSH含量、GST和GPx活性在Cd暴露期间无显著变化,且2种贝类间比较,扇贝内脏团中GSH含量和GST活性在整个实验期间始终显著高于菲律宾蛤仔(p0.05),GPx活性从第4天开始高于菲律宾蛤仔;对于无镉污染的对照组,扇贝和菲律宾蛤仔内脏团中SOD、CAT和GPx活性无显著差异,但扇贝内脏团中GSH含量和GST活性显著高于菲律宾蛤仔,其中前者GSH含量约为后者的22倍。研究同时表明在相同镉环境下扇贝内脏团对Cd的富集浓度和富集速率均远高于菲律宾蛤仔。本研究明确了2种贝类在相同镉环境下的抗氧化反应的差异,推断出扇贝内脏团中高含量的GSH以及较高的GST和GPx活性可能在扇贝高富集、高耐受Cd方面起重要作用。     

黑斑蛙与非洲爪蟾蝌蚪急性毒性试验方法敏感性的比较

两栖动物蝌蚪急性毒性试验是评价化学品急性毒性的一种方法。以毒死蜱、乙草胺、重铬酸钾和全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)为测试物,比较了我国本土黑斑蛙(Rana nigromaculata)与国际通用种非洲爪蟾(Xenopus laevis)在蝌蚪急性毒性试验中的敏感性。结果发现：2类蝌蚪分别进行的11次试验中,空白对照组黑斑蛙蝌蚪死亡率(0.9%)远低于非洲爪蟾蝌蚪的死亡率(5.8%);重铬酸钾和PFOS对黑斑蛙蝌蚪的96 h-LC₅₀分别为34.0 mg·L^-1和81.0 mg·L^-1,而对非洲爪蟾蝌蚪的96 h-LC₅₀分别为51.6 mg·L^-1和92.1 mg·L^-1,显示黑斑蛙蝌蚪对这2种化学品的敏感性略高于非洲爪蟾蝌蚪;毒死蜱和乙草胺对黑斑蛙蝌蚪的96 h-LC₅₀分别为0.41 mg·L^-1和4.1 mg·L^-1,而对非洲爪蟾蝌蚪的96 h-LC₅₀分别为0.12 mg·L^-1和3.1 mg·L^-1,显示黑斑蛙蝌蚪对这2种化学品的敏感性略低于非洲爪蟾。鉴于2类蝌蚪对化学品的敏感性存在差异,且黑斑蛙蝌蚪的自然死亡率低,材料更易获得,笔者认为黑斑蛙蝌蚪比非洲爪蟾更适合作为蝌蚪急性毒性试验的材料,用于我国化学品环境管理中的毒性评价。     

Chemical mimicry of cuticular hydrocarbons – how does Eremostibes opacus gain access to breeding burrows of its host Parastizopus armaticeps (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae)?

Summary. Breeding burrows of Parastizopus armaticeps armaticeps, a fossorial desert tenebrionid beetle, are cleptoparasitised by the closely related Eremostibes opacus. Gas chromatographic analyses show a high congruity of the cuticular hydrocarbons of both species. We compare these hydrocarbon patterns with those of four other Stizopina species and the Scaurini Herpiscius sommeri. In a bioassay, dummies treated with cuticular hydrocarbon extracts of E. opacus and the P. a. bifidus parasite E. bushmanicus were mostly ignored by P. a. armaticeps, whereas dummies with applied extracts of the remaining species were heavily attacked. We show that there is a correlation between agonistic behaviour of P. a. armaticeps towards the intruder and the chemical similarity of the cuticular hydrocarbons of the two species. Furthermore, we produced quantitatively modified hydrocarbon patterns of E. barbatus by changing the temperature at which this species was kept. The new 30 °C type was chemically similar to E. opacus, and was frequently ignored by P. a. armaticeps, whereas a reduction of the temperature to 20 °C only had minor effects on the hydrocarbon pattern. Furthermore, we show that the addition of one single component, heptacosane, to the cuticular hydrocarbon extract of E. opacus alters the host’s reaction. We discuss the role of cuticular hydrocarbons for the recognition of this host-parasite system and the relevance of quantitative characters in the hydrocarbon pattern for the discrimination of the host.     

Sex pheromone communication of tentiform leaf-miners <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllonorycter insignitella</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ph. nigrescentella</Emphasis> from two related species groups

Summary.  Females of both species start their pheromone-releasing activity on the second day after emergence at the beginning of the photophase. During the present work, a peak of calling activity with close to 100% of active Ph. nigrescentella females was registered 1.5 hour after the light had been put on. The high pheromone release behaviour with 50% active females lasted for 3 hours. The calling activity of the group of females was about 6 h/day. The beginning of a photophase under laboratory conditions or an early morning in nature is a common period for sex pheromone release in the genus Phyllonorycter. (8Z,10E)-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate (8Z,10E-14:Ac), (8Z,10E)-tetradecadien-1-ol (8Z,10E-14:OH) and (8E,10Z)-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate (8E,10Z-14:Ac) in the ratio 96:4:traces as well as 8Z,10E-14:Ac and 8Z,10E-14:OH in the ratio 88:12 collected by Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) were found to be specific for the calling periods of virgin Phyllonorycter insignitella and Ph. nigrescentella females respectively. Field trapping experiments demonstrated that all three compounds are important for the attraction of Ph. insignitella males while only 8Z,10E-14:Ac is the essential sex pheromone component for Ph. nigrescentella. The pheromone activity of all three compounds is reported for the first time. Addition of either 8Z,10E-14:OH or 8E,10Z-14:Ac to 8Z,10E-14:Ac did not have a significant effect on the attraction of Ph. nigrescentella males, while the efficiency of the three component blend was 5 times lower as compared to that of 8Z,10E-14:Ac. Our data demonstrate that 8Z,10E-14:OH and 8E,10Z-14:Ac play a dual function, they are minor sex pheromone components of Ph. insignitella essential for attraction of conspecific males and show an allelochemical, antagonistic effect on Ph. nigrescentella males and, thus, ensuring specificity of the mate location signal in two related Phyllonorycter species.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Complex chemical communication in the crazy ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paratrechina longicornis</Emphasis> Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Summary. The formicine ant Paratrechina longicornis is known for its extremely opportunistic foraging behaviour. Only a single trail pheromone source, the rectum, was previously described from this ant. Our detailed examination of this ant’s chemical communication system revealed the presence of at least four sources of pheromones. Rectum, poison sac, and Dufour gland contain orientation components with decreasing effectiveness and persistence (in the sequence mentioned) as well as attractants with increasing effectiveness. Furthermore, the mandibular gland contains repellents, and a releaser of defensive behaviour. This set of various signals of different strength and persistence allows an extraordinary degree of flexibility and efficiency in the collective behaviour of P. longicornis, especially food exploitation, and thus may contribute to this insect’s overall ecological success.     

Attractive and repellent host odours guide ticks to their respective feeding sites

Summary. We have studied on-host behaviour of adults of the brown ear tick (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann, 1901) and the red-legged tick (R. evertsi Neumann, 1897), which prefer to feed mainly inside the ears and the anal regions of bovids respectively. Both species were found to be relatively successful in orienting toward and locating their respective feeding sites from different parts of the host body. Our observations suggested the operation of both avoidance (closer to the feeding site of the other) and attraction (closer to its own feeding site) responses of the ticks. In the laboratory, odour trapped from cattle ears attracted R. appendiculatus but repelled R. evertsi, whereas that from the anal region had an opposite effect. This odour-based push-pull pair of stimuli may largely account for efficient orientation behaviour of the two tick species to their respective feeding sites. We propose that such concurrent deployment of repulsive and attractive cues may be quite widespread among arthropods and related organisms that specialise on specific hosts or microenvironments in the performance of their biological functions.     

Comparison of the flower scent of the sexually deceptive orchid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ophrys iricolor</Emphasis> and the female sex pheromone of its pollinator <Emphasis Type="Italic">Andrena morio</Emphasis>

Summary. Ophrys flowers mimic the female produced sex pheromone of their pollinator species to attract males for pollination. The males try to copulate with the putative female and thereby pollinate the flower. Using electrophysiological and chemical analyses, floral volatiles released by O. iricolor as well as the female sex pheromone of its pollinator species, Andrena morio are investigated. Overall, 38 peaks comprising 41 chemical compounds, were found to release reactions in the antennae of male A. morio bees. Analyses using coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the presence of alkanes and alkenes with 20 to 29 carbon atoms, aldehydes (C9 to C24) and two esters. Almost all of those compounds were found in similar proportions in both, the floral extracts of O. iricolor and cuticle surface extracts of A. morio females. The pattern of biologically active volatiles described here is very similar to that used by other Ophrys species pollinated by Andrena males.     

Multiple feeding stimulants in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sinapis alba</Emphasis> for the oligophagous leaf beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaedon cochleariae</Emphasis>

Summary. In earlier investigations on host plant discrimination of leaf beetles glucosinolates were described as feeding stimulants for the Brassicaceae specialist Phaedon cochleariae F. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). However, since these findings could not be confirmed in later studies offering 2-propenylglucosinolate in concentrations corresponding to those detected in host plant leaf material, the identification of feeding stimulants of this leaf beetle species remained unclear. In order to investigate which compounds of the host plant Sinapis alba (Brassicaceae) are involved in feeding stimulation, leaf extracts of different polarities were tested in bioassays with adults of P. cochleariae. Number of feeding beetles and net consumption rates were highest on pea leaves painted with methanol extracts of S. alba, whereas weak feeding responses were also detectable for hexane extracts. In subsequent bioassay-guided fractionations of methanol extracts with semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography, two distinct fractions, one containing glucosinolates and another containing flavonoids, were found to stimulate beetles to feed to variable degrees. Other collected fractions had zero activity. The combination of both active fractions evoked significantly higher consumption rates and stimulated more beetles to feed than fractions tested individually. At least one compound of each fraction, among these the main glucosinolate of S. alba, 4-hydroxybenzylglucosinolate, act additively. Effects of two different naturally-occurring ratios of glucosinolates and flavonoids on the strength of feeding responses were investigated by use of extracts of two sets of host plants differently exposed to radiation. One set was outdoors-exposed, whereas the second set was kept in the greenhouse. However, the feeding behaviour of P. cochleariae was not affected by the significantly different relative compositions of both compound classes in the host material. In conclusion, mustard leaf beetles need a combination of distinct plant metabolites acting in concert for feeding stimulation, whereby the mere presence of these stimulants, but probably not the ratio of involved compounds, determines their feeding response.     

Co-evolution-driven cuticular hydrocarbon variation between the slave-making ant Rossomyrmex minuchae and its host Proformica longiseta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Summary. Proformica longiseta exists as two populations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Spain, only one of which is parasitized by the slave-maker ant Rossomyrmex minuchae. To investigate the possible effect of co-evolutionary pressures on cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles (the presumed nestmate recognition cues), we performed a comparative analysis of the CHC of R. minuchae and P. longiseta colonies from both the allopatric and sympatric populations; the latter includes samples of enslaved as well as free-living workers. Discriminant analyses based on these chemical profiles showed two clear profile groups: the first comprised R. minuchae and both enslaved and free-living P. longiseta from the sympatric population; and the second the allopatric P. longiseta workers. As expected, the profiles of the two sympatric P. longiseta groups (enslaved and free-living) were distinct; but, interestingly, those of the enslaved P. longiseta and its parasite R. minuchae were also distinguishable. This indicates that despite their cohabitation each species maintains its own chemical identity. Profile similarity between the sympatric free-living P. longiseta and its parasite may explain the lower than expected aggression observed during raids. We further speculate that in view of the differences between the sympatric and allopatric population of P. longiseta, co-evolutionary pressures have driven changes in the profile of the former to better match that of its parasite R. minuchae. Such an adjustment may have enabled nests of the sympatric P. longiseta to endure multiple raids by the parasite (due to the reduced aggression) and thus to continue to reproduce despite the damage inflicted by the raids.     

Preservation and loss of the honey bee (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis</Emphasis>) egg-marking signal across evolutionary time

Honey bee workers are able to distinguish queen-laid eggs from worker-laid eggs, and remove (‘police’) worker-laid eggs. The cue that police workers use is as yet unidentified but is likely to be a chemical signal. This signal benefits queens for it ensures their reproductive monopoly. It also benefits collective workers because it allows them to raise more closely related queen-laid males than the less-related sons of half sisters. Because both parties benefit from the egg-marking signal, it should be stable over evolutionary time. We show that Apis mellifera workers can distinguish queen-laid from worker-laid eggs of the dwarf honey bee A. florea, a phylogenetically distant species that diverged from the A. mellifera lineage 6–10 mya. However, A. mellifera workers are unable to distinguish worker-laid eggs of A. cerana, a much more recent divergence (2–3 mya). The apparent change in the egg-marking signal used by A. cerana may be associated with the high rates of ovary activation in this species.     

三唑醇杀菌剂在雄性丽斑麻蜥体内的对映选择性降解、蓄积和肝毒性研究

三唑醇(triadimenol, TN)是一种广泛使用的手性三唑类杀菌剂,它含有2个手性中心,4个手性对映体,包括对映体A(A1(R,S)和A2(S,R))以及对映体B(B1(R,R)和B2(S,S))。为了研究三唑醇在爬行动物体内的对映选择性行为和潜在的肝毒性,将雄性丽斑麻蜥分别一次经口暴露和28 d长期暴露于三唑醇(100 mg·kg~(-1) body weight),一次经口暴露结果显示,三唑醇进入大脑和肾中的浓度低于肝、性腺、皮肤和尾,B2(S,S)和B1(R,R)对映体具有相似的代谢速率。代谢过程中A1(R,S)的浓度明显高于A2(S,R),并且在暴露后12 h出现二次上升,这可能是A2(S,R)在体内手性转换为A1(R,S)导致。丽斑麻蜥长期(28 d)暴露于三唑醇后,性腺和肾中无明显蓄积现象,皮和尾中浓度显著高于其他组织,各个组织中三唑醇趋向于保持外消旋状态。三唑醇暴露后肝中主要的代谢基因cyp1a1c、yp3a4c、yp2b1和cyp2d3的表达量都出现明显上升,组织病理学分析进一步显示,三唑醇暴露后的肝组织出现组织空泡、血窦阻塞的症状,说明三唑醇对肝组织具有一定的毒性作用。上述结果为手性农药对爬行动物的生态毒理学评价提供了重要依据。     

New repellent semiochemicals for three species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendroctonus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Summary. Nine compounds identified from captured volatiles of the Douglas-fir beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae, the mountain pine beetle, D. ponderosae, and the spruce beetle, D. rufipennis, that elicited antennal responses in males and females of one or more of these species were tested in the field to determine behavioural activity. 1-Octen-3-ol, found in the volatiles of females of all three species decreased the response of male and female coastal and male interior D. pseudotsugae and both sexes of D. ponderosae to their aggregation pheromones. Acetophenone, identified in the volatiles of females of all three species, significantly decreased the response of interior female D. pseudotsugae. trans-Verbenol, a potent aggregation pheromone of D. ponderosae, decreased the response of both sexes of D. pseudotsugae, while 3-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1- one (MCH), the antiaggregation pheromone of D. pseudotsugae and D. rufipennis decreased the response of both sexes of D. ponderosae. While it has been demonstrated that semiochemical mediated interspecific communication occurs among bark beetles infesting the same host, this study demonstrates that beetles can perceive signals emitted by heterospecifics attacking nonhosts and can potentially use them to avoid attacking the wrong species of conifer.     

Mate preferences in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> infected with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wolbachia</Emphasis>?

The maternally inherited bacterium Wolbachia pipientis generates strong reproductive incompatibilities between uninfected females and infected males (cytoplasmic incompatibility), significantly reducing both female and male reproductive success. Such fitness costs are thought to place selective pressure on hosts to evolve pre-copulatory preferences for mating with compatible mates, thereby enabling them to avoid the reproductive incompatibilities associated with Wolbachia. Therefore, uninfected females are predicted to prefer mating with uninfected males, whereas infected males are predicted to prefer mating with infected females. Despite these predictions, previous investigations of pre-copulatory mate preferences in Wolbachia-manipulated Drosophila have not found evidence of female preference for uninfected or compatible males. However, none of these studies utilised a design where focal individuals are provided with a simple choice in a relatively non-competitive situation. We examined both female and male pre-copulatory mate preference based on mate infection status in Drosophila simulans and D. melanogaster using simple choice assays involving between 30–50 replicates per treatment. Although we found no evidence of female pre-copulatory mate preferences in either species, male D. simulans exhibited some preference for mating with females of the same infection status. However, this preference was not evident when we repeated the experiment to confirm this finding. Consequently, we conclude that neither male nor female D. melanogaster and D. simulans exhibit significant Wolbachia-associated pre-copulatory mate preferences.     

Predator inspection behaviour in three-spined sticklebacks (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gasterosteus aculeatus</Emphasis>): body size,local predation pressure and cooperation

The apparently maladaptive tendency of fish to approach and inspect potential predators has been explained in terms of useful information gathering or as a signal to the predator that it has been seen. We examined this behaviour in 16 populations of wild-caught stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from ponds with and without predatory perch (Perca fluviatilis). Three large and three small individuals per population were each exposed to three model predators differing in realism. A final cooperative treatment entailed pairing subjects with a second individual from the same population, but of the alternative size class, during predator presentation. As might be expected, predator inspection behaviour was much greater in the predator-sympatric populations, and only these fish increased their level of inspection as the models became incrementally more realistic. This suggests that reductions occur in the level of costly inspection behaviour in populations without predators. Subject body size had no effect on inspection effort, which suggests a limited role for experience (we assumed larger fish to be older than smaller fish), at least over the relative age differences utilized. However, small predator-sympatric fish were the only subjects to increase inspection significantly when in a cooperative context, perhaps reflecting the inherent value of a relatively larger partner in this context. These results confirm that levels of predator inspection are both population- and situation-dependent, suggesting a trade-off in the potential costs and benefits of this behaviour.Communicated by C. St. Mary     

Host-plant leaf surface compounds influencing oviposition in Delia antiqua

Summary. Delia antiqua (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) females lay eggs between the leaves of onion plants or in the soil around the base of the plants, then the maggots feed on the onion bulb and roots causing rapid secondary infection by fungi and bacteria. It is well known that the first sensory modality used by the onion fly is vision, therefore the shape (vertical narrow cylinders) and colour (yellow) of the plant play a crucial role in the recognition of a potential host plant. In the past it has been shown that n-dipropyl disulfide (Pr₂S₂), a typical component of onion volatiles, is an important chemical host plant cue. We extracted host leaf surface to verify if Pr₂S₂ is the major chemical oviposition stimulant and to determine if other as yet unknown substances may play a role in host-plant selection. We confirmed that the females laid more eggs around onion plants with leaves than when only the onion bulb was present and that the odour of chopped onion stimulates oviposition. Extraction of the surface of onion leaves revealed that only the apolar fraction contained substances that stimulate egg-laying in D. antiqua. GC-EAD analysis indicated that a minor constituent, Pr₂S₂, is perceived by the olfactory receptor on the antennae of the onion fly females. This confirmed the importance of Pr₂S₂ as oviposition stimulant. Contact with the polar fraction did not stimulate egg-laying behaviour in this Delia species. We discuss the oviposition strategy of D. antiqua in comparison with its closely related species, D. radicum, in which the oviposition behaviour is stimulated mainly through contact with the cabbage leaf surface and only partially by the host volatiles.     

Emission of oilseed rape volatiles after pollen beetle infestation; behavioural and electrophysiological responses in the parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phradis morionellus</Emphasis>

Summary. The pollen beetle, Meligethes aeneus, is an important pest of oilseed rape, Brassica napus. Larvae of this species feed only in the buds and flowers of Brassicaceae. One important natural enemy of this beetle is the parasitoid Phradis morionellus that attacks larvae in buds and flowers and also feeds on the flowers. The preferences for odours of non-infested and infested rape were tested for both starved and fed parasitoids in Y-tube olfactometer experiments. The volatile blend released from pollen beetle-infested and non-infested flowering rape and from pollen beetle larvae was identified and quantified. Gas chromatography-electroantennodetection analyses were performed with female P. morionellus. Parasitoids in both treatment groups preferred infested rape, but the proportion of responding female P. morionellus was significantly lower for the group that was starved. Six of the 20 volatiles identified were released at higher rates from infested rape than from non-infested. None of these compounds was found in pollen beetle larvae headspace. P. morionellus antennae detected both major and minor components in the volatile blend. The volatiles released at a significantly higher rate from infested rape and detected by P. morionellus antennae were (Z)-3-hexenylacetate, (Z)-3-hexenol, 3-butenyl isothiocyanate and (E,E)-α-farnesene.     

Detoxification of pyrrolizidine alkaloids by the harvestman <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mitopus morio</Emphasis> (Phalangidae) a predator of alkaloid defended leaf beetles

Summary. The harvestman Mitopus morio (Phalangidae) is a generalist predator. It is known to prey on larvae of the chrysomelid leaf beetle Oreina cacaliae defended by plant acquired pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). Tracer feeding experiments were performed to determine how harvestmen tolerate protoxic PAs. Minced meat containing either [¹⁴C]senecionine or [¹⁴C]senecionine N-oxide was fed to M. morio and subsequently feces and bodies were analyzed. Labeled alkaloid N-oxide remained stable and was eliminated almost unaltered with the feces; only 10% was recovered as tertiary PA. In contrast, approximately 80% of labeled tertiary alkaloid (senecionine) ingested with the diet was N-oxidized and eliminated; the remaining 20% consisted of unchanged senecionine and a polar metabolite of unknown structure. Harvestmen process their diet by excreting digestive juice, indicated by bleaching of the meat color. Analysis of the processed diet revealed some N-oxidation of [¹⁴C]senecionine, suggesting the gut as the site of Noxidation. Analysis of the bodies of harvestmen 80 hours after the tracer feeding pulse revealed only trace amounts of the polar metabolite. Neither senecionine nor its N-oxide could be detected in the body extracts. The results are discussed in relation to the strategies of PA adapted insects to avoid accumulation of tertiary PAs in living tissues.