Jja. Van Loon et al., Orientation behaviour of the predatory hemipteran Perillus bioculatus to plant and prey odours, ENT EXP APP, 96(1), 2000, pp. 51-58
The pentatomid predator P. bioculatus responded by positive odour-condition
ed anemotaxis when exposed to airborne volatiles emitted by potato plants d
amaged by Colorado potato beetle larvae, whereas intact potato plants and n
on-feeding larvae as odour sources failed to elicit anemotaxis. Walking tra
cks of adult predators had higher values of straightness and upwind fixatio
n when odours emanating from mechanically damaged plants were encountered t
han tracks registered in response to air carrying volatiles from intact pla
nts, but these parameters returned to control values within 1-2 h after dam
age was caused. In contrast, air led over plants damaged by beetle larvae e
licited orientation responses at least 3 hours after feeding damage ceased.
The combination of chemical data on headspace composition, olfactory sensi
tivity established in electro-antennogram studies and behavioural data pres
ented here imply a role of sesquiterpenoid plant volatiles as odorous cues
eliciting attraction of this predator to damaged potato plants.