| Title: | "The role of semiochemicals in short-range location of aggregation sites in Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae)" |
| Author(s): | Susset EC; Ramon-Portugal F; Hemptinne JL; Dewhirst SY; Birkett MA; Magro A; |
| Address: | "Universite de Toulouse, UMR CNRS/EDB/ENFA Laboratoire Evolution et Diversite Biologique, 2 route de Narbonne, 31320, Castanet Tolosan, France. eline.susset@educagri.fr" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10886-013-0285-0 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "To survive unfavorable periods, ladybird beetles form conspicuous aggregations in specific microsites, with these locations remaining the same year after year. This constancy of location leads to the hypothesis that semiochemicals are involved in the attraction and aggregation of ladybirds to the microsite. In this study, we identified two types of semiochemicals that could play key roles in the attraction and aggregation formation of the two-spotted ladybird, Adalia bipunctata. We first isolated and identified three alkylmethoxypyrazines from A. bipunctata and tested the behavioral responses of diapausing ladybirds to these chemicals in a four-way olfactometer. This revealed that 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, on its own or as part of a two-component mixture with 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, elicited a positive behavioral response, causing arrestment of diapausing A. bipunctata. As ladybirds are in contact with each other in aggregations, we investigated the role of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) in driving the cohesion and maintenance of aggregation. When an extract of CHCs from diapausing ladybirds was deposited near an alkylmethoxypyrazine source, ladybirds spent more time in the vicinity of the source. We identified a set of CHCs specific to diapausing A. bipunctata. Alkylmethoxyyrazines and CHCs thus deliver information to diapausing ladybirds searching for an aggregation site, as well as mediating several other behaviors throughout the ladybird's life cycle. Chemical parsimony is discussed" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Behavior, Animal/*physiology Coleoptera/*physiology Female Hydrocarbons/*metabolism Male Odorants/analysis Pheromones/physiology Pyrazines/*metabolism;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineSusset, Eline C Ramon-Portugal, Felipe Hemptinne, Jean-Louis Dewhirst, Sarah Y Birkett, Michael A Magro, Alexandra eng Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2013/04/27 J Chem Ecol. 2013 May; 39(5):591-601. doi: 10.1007/s10886-013-0285-0. Epub 2013 Apr 26" |
