B. Weissbecker et al., Identification of volatile potato sesquiterpenoids and their olfactory detection by the two-spotted stinkbug Perillus bioculatus, J CHEM ECOL, 26(6), 2000, pp. 1433-1445
The predaceous stinkbug Perillus bioculatus is attracted towards volatiles
emitted by damaged potato plants. Whereas mechanically damaged plants lost
attractiveness 1 h after damage was indicted, attraction was long-lasting w
hen the plants were damaged by Colorado potato beetles Leptinotarsa decemli
neata, a prey of P. bioculatus. A range of sesquiterpenoids was previously
shown to be induced upon beetle damage. In order to evaluate the potential
role of sesquiterpenoids in the attraction response, volatiles from damaged
potato plants were collected and analyzed with GC-MS and GC-EAG. The anten
nae of P. bioculatus responded to beta-caryophyllene, alpha-humulene, (E)-b
eta-farnesene, (-)-germacrene D, and germacrene D-4-ol. Two sesquiterpenes
that coeluted, alpha-zingiberene and bicyclogermacrene, together also elici
ted olfactory responses of P. bioculatus, whereas the individual compounds
did not. The response of P. bioculatus to a variety of sesquiterpenes at lo
w dosages suggests a role for these compounds in prey detection of this sti
nkbug.