Abstract
The responses of two insect predators of spider mites, Scolothrips takahashii (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Oligota kashmirica benefica (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), to volatile compounds from leaves treated with aqueous jasmonic acid (JA) and/or gaseous methyl salicylate (MeSA) in an olfactometer were examined. Adult females of O. kashmirica benefica exhibited a significant preference for JA+MeSA-treated leaves when compared with uninfested leaves. In contrast, adult females of S. takahashii significantly preferred MeSA- and JA+MeSA-treated leaves to uninfested leaves. Neither predator showed any preference for JA-treated leaves when compared with uninfested leaves. The results argue in favor of manipulating the behavior of natural enemies of herbivores as a method of biological control against herbivorous pests in agroecosystems. This is the first report to suggest that MeSA can be a useful tool for enhancing the effectiveness of carnivorous natural enemies of spider mites.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 535-541 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Applied Entomology and Zoology |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2002 |
Keywords
- Jasmonic acid
- Lima bean
- Methyl salicylate
- Oligota kashmirica benefica
- Scolothrips takahashii