Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #178800
Title: VISUAL CUES ENHANCE THE RESPONSE OF LYGUS HESPERUS (HETEROPTERA: MIRIDAE) TO VOLATILES FROM HOST PLANTS

Author
item BLACKMER, JACQUELYN
item CANAS, LUIS - OHIO STATE UNIV WOOSTER

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/9/2005
Publication Date: 12/1/2005
Citation: Blackmer, J.L., Canas, L.A. 2005. Visual cues enhance the response of lygus hesperus (heteroptera: miridae) to volatiles from host plants. Environmental Entomology 34(6): 1524-1533.

Interpretive Summary: We examined the response of immature and adult Lygus hesperus, the western tarnished plant bug, to volatile odors associated with a host plant (alfalfa) when presented singly or in combination with a visual plant cue (green light-emitting diode - LED). Bioassays were conducted in an olfactometer, where air was filtered and humidified before passing through chambers that held plant/Lygus treatments. In agreement with our previous findings, nymphs and female L. hesperus were attracted to plant/Lygus volatile odor combinations, but males were not. Independently, the LED also was attractive to nymphs and female L. hesperus, and for all life stages a much larger percentage of the bugs walked to the extreme end of the Y tube when the visual cue was present. When visual and volatile cues were presented together, responses by both immature and adult (male and female) L. hesperus were significantly enhanced. Plant/Lygus treatments that had been marginally acceptable, when only volatile stimuli were available, showed the greatest enhancement with the addition of the visual cue. A mean increase of 36.6 % for nymphs, 23.4 % for females and 26.1 % for males went to the far end of the Y tube when visual and volatile cues were presented together. Results are discussed in terms of stage-specific responses and how these behavioral differences will likely play a role in developing effective trapping and monitoring systems for this important pest.

Technical Abstract: Studies were conducted to examine the response of fifth instar and adult Lygus hesperus Knight (Heteroptera: Miridae) to volatile odors associated with a host plant (alfalfa) when presented singly or in combination with a visual plant cue (530 nm, green light-emitting diode - LED). Bioassays were conducted in a modified Y-tube olfactometer, where incoming air was filtered and humidified before passing through chambers that held plant/conspecific treatments. A LED, placed behind an organdy screen at the end of one arm of the Y tube, simulated a visual plant cue. In agreement with our previous findings, nymphs and female L. hesperus were attracted to plant/conspecific volatile odor combinations, but males were not. Independently, the LED also was attractive to nymphs and female L. hesperus, and for all life stages a much larger percentage of the bugs walked to the extreme end of the Y tube when the visual cue was present. When visual and volatile cues were presented simultaneously, responses by both immature and adult (male and female) L. hesperus were significantly enhanced. Plant/conspecific treatments that had been marginally acceptable, when only volatile stimuli were available, showed the greatest enhancement with the addition of the visual cue. A mean increase of 36.6 % for nymphs, 23.4 % for females and 26.1 % for males went to the far end of the Y tube when visual and volatile cues were presented together. Results are discussed in terms of stage-specific responses and how these behavioral differences will likely play a role in developing effective trapping and monitoring systems for this important pest.