Jk. Peterson et Kd. Elsey, CHEMICAL FACTORS INVOLVED IN SELECTION OF HOST-PLANT FOR OVIPOSITION BY THE PICKLEWORM MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE), The Florida entomologist, 78(3), 1995, pp. 482-492
Studies with caged gravid females of the pickleworm, [Diaphania nitida
lis (Stoll.)], revealed that leaves of yellow squash (Curcurbita pepo
L.) contain small (MW <1000), non-volatile and highly polar amphoteric
compounds which stimulate oviposition on artificial sites. Several co
mpounds, extracted from paper chromatograms, caused moderate stimulati
on of oviposition. When these extracts were recombined, the mixture pr
oved highly active. Addition of whole leaf volatiles to the active wat
er-soluble fraction increased oviposition. The whole leaf volatiles mi
xture could be substituted with volatiles originating from leaf glandu
lar trichomes.