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EVIDENCE FOR AN AIRBORNE SEX PHEROMONE IN THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE, LEPTINOTARSA DECEMLINEATA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

M.A. Edwards  and
W.D. Seabrook
M.A. Edwards
Affiliation:
Biology Department, University of New Brunswick, Bag Service #45111, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 6E1
W.D. Seabrook
Affiliation:
Biology Department, University of New Brunswick, Bag Service #45111, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 6E1
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Abstract

Trials using four different sex combinations of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, demonstrated that male beetles move upwind towards females, whereas no attraction was seen between any of the other combinations. Attraction was not found to increase significantly after the female reached 10 days old. Visual stimuli appear to be unimportant from a distance of 50 cm. Orientation behaviour by the male beetle was observed as it walked upwind towards the female; no identifiable calling behaviour by the female was observed. The data indicate a sex pheromone is being produced by the female and is used by the male for mate location from a distance.

Résumé

Des expériences sur quatre groupements de Doryphores de la pomme de terre, Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, selon leur sexe, ont démontré que les mâles se déplacent vers les femelles contre le vent, alors qu’aucune attirance n’a été observée au sein des autres regroupements. L’attirance n’augmente pas significativement à partir du moment où les femelles atteignent l’âge de 10 jours. Les stimulus visuels ne semblent pas jouer un rôle important à une distance de plus de 50 cm. Le comportement d’orientation d’un mâle a pu être observé alors qu’il marchait vers une femelle contre le vent; aucun signal particulier de la femelle n’a été détecté. Les données indiquent que la femelle produit une phéromone sexuelle que le mâle utilise pour s’orienter vers elle à partir d’une certaine distance.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 129 , Issue 4 , August 1997 , pp. 667 - 672
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1997

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