Abstract
Laboratory olfactometer bioassays and field trapping experiments showed that the flea beetle,Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze), was highly attracted by oilseed rape(Brassica napus L.) when flea beetles were on the plant. This attraction was mediated by a flea beetle-produced aggregation pheromone based upon: (1) Oilseed rape damaged mechanically, or byP. cruciferae, or by diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella (L.), did not attractP. cruciferae. (2) Contact with the plants or feeding was required for the production of aggregation pheromone because oilseed rape alone was not attractive when separated from flea beetles by a screen. (3) Equal numbers of males and females were attracted.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, M.D., Peng, C., andWeiss, M.J. 1992. Crambe,Crambe abyssinica Hochst., as a flea beetle resistant crop (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).J. Econ. Entomol. 85:594–600.
Birch, M.C. 1984. Aggregation in bark beetles, pp. 331–353,in W.J. Bell and R.T. Carde (eds.). Chemical Ecology of Insects. Chapman and Hall, London.
Bodnaryk, R.P., andPalaniswamy, P. 1990. Glucosinolate levels in cotyledons of mustard,Brassica juncea L. and rape,B. napus L. do not determine feeding rates of flea beetles,Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze).J. Chem. Ecol. 16:2735–2746.
Borden, J.H. 1985. Aggregation pheromone, pp. 257–285,in G.A. Kerkut and L.I. Gilbert (eds.). Comprehensive Insect Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Vol. 9. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
Burgess, L. 1977. Flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) attacking rape crops in the Canadian prairie provinces.Can. Entomol. 109:21–32.
Burgess, L., andWiens, J.E. 1976. Maintaining a colony of the striped flea beetle,Phyllotreta striolata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the greenhouse.Can. Entomol. 108:53–55.
Feeny, P. 1977. Defensive ecology of the Cruciferae.Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard. 64:221–234.
Feeny, P., Paauwe, K.L., andDemong, N.J. 1970. Flea beetles and mustard oils: host plant specificity ofPhyllotreta cruciferae andP. striolata adults (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 63:832–841.
Hicks, K.L. 1974. Mustard oil glucosides: feeding stimulants for adult cabbage flea beetles,Phyl-lotreta cruciferae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 67:261–264.
Lamb, R.J. 1989. Entomology of oilseedBrassica crops.Anna. Rev. Entomol. 34:211–229.
Lamb, R.J., andPalaniswamy, P. 1990. Host discrimination by a crucifer-feeding flea beetle,Phyllotreta striolata (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).Can. Entomol. 122:817–824.
McGhee, J.E., Kirk, L.D., andMustakas, G.C. 1965. Methods for determining thioglucosides inCrambe abyssinica.J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 42:889–891.
Peng, C.,Weiss, M.J., andAnderson, M.D. 1992. Flea beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) response, feeding, and longevity on oilseed rape and crambe.Environ. Entomol. In press. SASInstitute. 1987.
SAS User's Guide: Statistics. SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina.
Vincent, C., andStewart, R.K. 1984. Effect of allyl isothiocyanate on field behaviour of crucifer-feeding flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 10:33–39.
Weiss, M.J., McLeod, P., Schatz, B.G., andHanson, B.K. 1991. Potential for insecticidal management of flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on canola.J. Econ. Entomol. 84:1597–1603.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Peng, C., Weiss, M.J. Evidence of an aggregation pheromone in the flea beetle,Phyllotreta Cruciferae (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). J Chem Ecol 18, 875–884 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988328
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988328