Interactions of Insect pest semiochemicals and insect pollinators

Authors: Okosun, Olabimpe; Reddy, Gadi V.P.

Submitted to: International Society of Chemical Ecology Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2021
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Maximum crop yield is dependent on many factors which include the successful interactions of plants and insects. These interactions are multi-trophic between plants and various herbivores, carnivores, pathogens, and pollinators. In nature, most plants attract both pollinators and insect herbivores which impact fitness and consequently crop yield. These interactions could be costly for growers if, animals activities caused damage to plants resulting in crop yield and losses, or the interactions could be beneficial if animal activities results in provision of ecosystem services through pollination and predation of arthropod pests by their natural enemies. The plant floral display through visual and olfactory cues are use in attracting and manipulating pollinators’ behavior for effective sexual reproduction in plants while pollinators are rewarded with nectar and pollen. A key mode of communication between flowering plants, pollinators and their enemies are scents that can be exploited by herbivorous insects causing plants damage. The use of semiochemical based monitoring traps for insect pests in crop fields should be carefully integrated with pollinators management to reduce accidental capturing of pollinators in baited pest traps. Different integrated approach to minimize the impacts of pest management on pollinators assemblage within the agroecosystems are discussed.

Technical Abstract: Plants and insects being among the most abundant groups of organisms on earth, have diverse interactions resulting in significant major effects on agroecosystems production. The primary role of inducing plant volatiles due to herbivory is to mediate a different range of ecological interactions between plants, and visitors, such as arthropods, microorganisms, and natural enemies, for ultimate plant reproductive success. Insect herbivores can also use the floral scent that attract pollinators as kairomones with subsequent impacts on flower numbers, nectar production, flower size, flowering timing, and pollinator’s behavior. Hence, semiochemicals-based monitoring traps for insect pests in crop fields often accidentally captures pollinators leading to pollinator limitations and assemblage. An integrated approach that includes semiochemicals involved in plants-herbivores-pollinator-predator’s interactions for integrated pest pollinator management will be discussed.