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Commun Agric Appl Biol Sci

Title:		What makes Episyrphus balteatus (Diptera: Syrphidae) oviposit on aphid infested tomato plants?
Author(s):		Verheggen FJ; Capella Q; Wathelet JP; Haubruge E;
Address:		"Gembloux Agricultural University, Dept. Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Belgium. verheggen.f@fsagx.ac.be"
Journal Title:		Commun Agric Appl Biol Sci
Year:		2008
Volume:		73
Issue:		3
Page Number:		371 - 381
DOI:
ISSN/ISBN:		1379-1176 (Print) 1379-1176 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Under attack by insect pests, many plant species change their volatile chemical emissions to attract natural enemies. Most of the tomato (Lycopersicon sp., Solanaceae) varieties are subjected to infestation by molluscs and insects, including the generalist aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer (Homoptera, Aphididae). Episyrphus balteatus De Geer (Diptera: Syrphidae) is a generalist aphid predator that was here observed to lay eggs on M. persicae infested tomato but not on non-infested plants. In order to identify the volatile chemicals that guide the foraging and oviposition behaviour of E. balteatus, we collected and identified volatiles released in the headspace of both aphid infested and uninfested tomato plants by SPME-GC-MS. The identified chemicals were subsequently tested by electroantennography (EAG) on E. balteatus. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were identified, the main volatile chemicals being beta-phellandrene, 2-carene, alpha-phellandrene, 3-carene and o-pinene. Electrical depolarizations were observed for each tested monoterpene, with optimal responses ranging from -0.2 to -0.8 mV. Episyrphus balteatus antennae showed dose-response relationships towards all the active chemicals. (E)-beta-farnesene, the main component of the aphid alarm pheromone, was the only active sesquiterpene, and is presumed to act as an oviposition stimulus for E. balteotus"
Keywords:		Animals Aphids/*pathogenicity Arthropods/pathogenicity/physiology Diptera/*pathogenicity/physiology Female Solanum lycopersicum/*parasitology Mollusca/parasitology/physiology Oviposition Vicia faba/*parasitology;
Notes:		"MedlineVerheggen, F J Capella, Q Wathelet, J P Haubruge, E eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Belgium 2009/02/21 Commun Agric Appl Biol Sci. 2008; 73(3):371-81"