Identification of Communal Oviposition Pheromones from the Black Fly Simulium vittatum

The suite of pheromones that promote communal oviposition by Simulium vittatum, a North American black fly species, was identified and characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, electrophysiological, and behavioral bioassays. Behavioral assays demonstrated that communal oviposition was induced by egg-derived compounds that were active at short range and whose effect was enhanced through direct contact. Three compounds (cis-9-tetradecen-1-ol, 1-pentadecene, and 1-tridecene) were identified in a non-polar solvent extract of freshly deposited S. vittatum eggs that were capable of inducing the oviposition response. Electroantennography demonstrated that two of these three compounds (1-pentadecene and 1-tridecene) actively stimulated antennal neurons. Identification of the oviposition pheromones of this family may be helpful in developing control measures for nuisance black flies and for medically-important species such as Simulium damnosum sensu lato.     

Marking pheromones deterring repeated oviposition inRhagoletis flies

We confirm the existence of oviposition-deterring, fruit-marking pheromones inRhagoletis pomonella andR. fausta and demonstrate their existence in five additional species:R. cingulata, R. indifferens, R. mendax, R. cornivora andR. tabellaria. Individuals from (1) different species belonging to different species groups did not recognize each other's marking pheromones, (2) different species within the same species group varied in reaction from complete to no cross-recognition, (3) different wild populations of the same species always recognized each other's marking pheromones, and (4) a laboratory population ofR. pomonella cultured on apples for ca. fifteen generations deposited a marking pheromone less deterrent to oviposition than that from a wild population. Finally, the watersoluble marking pheromones ofR. indifferens andR. cornivora proved effective deterrents to oviposition when collected and reapplied in aqueous solution to uninfested fruit in laboratory cages.     

蝗虫化学信息物质研究进展

详述了蝗虫主要化学信息物质的种类、功能及主要成分等研究进展。蝗虫化学信息物质包括种内通讯的化学信息素和种间通讯的化学信息物质。其中种内通讯的化学信息素主要有群居信息素、成熟信息素、产卵信息素(含促产卵化学信息素和群集产卵化学信息素)、性信息素、聚集信息素等;种间通讯的化学信息物质主要介绍用于防卫的化学信息物质,包括卵分泌的信息物质、特定腺体分泌的信息物质、粪便挥发的信息物质、口腔分泌物和内部毒素等,对其天敌均有一定的防卫作用。化学通讯是蝗虫种内和种间通讯联系的普遍方式。     

Cover Caption

Females of the common green blow fly, Lucilia sericata, ovipositing on rat carrion. When females oviposit in aggregations, even‐aged larval offspring develop faster and fewer are preyed upon. These benefits imply that females engage in coordinated, pheromone‐mediated oviposition behavior. Yet, new data show that oviposition site‐seeking females do not respond to pheromones but to semiochemicals associated with gravid or non‐gravid feeding flies, taking chances that resources are suitable for oviposition and that ovipositing flies are present (see pages 651–660). Image: Sean McCann.     

昆虫寄主标记信息素

综述了昆虫寄主标记信息素的研究进展。昆虫寄主标记信息素是指由昆虫产生的用来标记寄主上有同种个体存在的化学物质。昆虫寄主标记信息素的主要生态学功能是调节昆虫的产卵行为,通过阻止自身或同种其它个体对已标记寄主的产卵选择,或减少产卵量来减少后代之间对寄主资源的竞争。寄主标记信息素也会给释放着带来不利的影响,如信息盗用和盗寄生现象等。昆虫寄主标记信息素也调节昆虫近缘种之间对共同寄主资源的竞争。近缘种昆虫对相互寄主标记信息素识别能力的差异反映了不同昆虫对同一寄主资源竞争能力的强弱。寄主标记信息素产生和贮存的部位一般与外分泌腺、消化系统或生殖系统相联系,杜氏腺、毒腺、前胸腺、腹腺、下唇腺、后产卵管、卵巢、中肠和后肠等是产生或贮存寄主标记信息素的常见部位。产生的寄主标记信息素一般在成虫产卵时由产卵器、口器或排泄口释放到寄主体内或体表。卵寄生蜂的寄主标记信息素一般标记在寄主的体表,雌成蜂用触角检测;其它寄生蜂的寄主标记信息素常产在寄主体内,用产卵器检测;植食性昆虫的寄主标记信息素只产在寄主表面,用触角或产卵器检测。昆虫的产卵器、口器、触角或跗节上着生有感受寄主标记信息素的化感器,可以检测到标记在寄主体内或体表的寄主标记信息素。昆虫寄主标记信息素的完全定性涉及活性化合物的分离、鉴定、合成以及行为测定等,已有几种昆虫的寄主标记信息素成分得到了分离鉴定。     

昆虫信息化学物质的应用进展

介绍昆虫性信息素(sex pheromone)、示踪信息素(trail pheromone)、聚集信息素(aggregation pheromone)、产卵(oviposition)和产卵忌避(oviposition deterring)信息化合物(semioche micals)和种间协同素(synomone)在害虫控制方面的最新应用进展,其中,重点介绍性信息素在害虫种群监测、大量诱捕和干扰交配3个方面的应用进展情况。与性信息素相比,人们对示踪信息素、聚集信息素、产卵和产卵忌避信息化合物和种间协同素的报道较少,但这些信息素也正在不断的被人们发现和利用。从一种昆虫信息素被鉴定出来,到其在生产当中很好应用,尚有很多问题需要解决,所以,文中对昆虫信息化学物质田间应用效果的影响因子进行分析。     

Plant wound compounds from oviposition scars used in host discrimination by a stem-galling sawfly

The stem-galling sawfly Euura lasiolepisuses one or more plant wound compounds resulting from oviposition scars as cues in host discrimination (avoiding sites occupied by conspecifics). Four experiments were conducted to test hypotheses about how Euurapartitions resources. Experiment 1 demonstrated that Euuraavoids ovipositing on nodes with scars from previous ovipositions. Experiment 2 showed no evidence that the sawfly uses oviposition-deterring pheromones and indicated there is a time lag following oviposition before the oviposition scar becomes a deterrent. Experiment 3 showed that sawflies avoid artificially formed scars, demonstrating that a plant cue alone can lead to host discrimination. Experiment 4 showed that visual or tactile cues are not necessary for host discrimination and indicated that a plant wound compound functions as an oviposition deterrent. Both experimental results and field surveys showed that Euuraoviposition scars were more uniformly distributed than expected if sawflies were ignoring previous ovipositions.     

昆虫产卵分泌物的产生方式、成分及功能

产卵是昆虫生活史中的重要阶段。绝大多数昆虫产卵前后都会产生分泌物用于卵的粘着和覆盖, 这些分泌物起到保护卵及初孵幼虫的作用;有些昆虫还通过产卵分泌物对卵进行标记, 进而影响种群、个体间对现有资源的有效利用。产卵分泌物是昆虫进化过程中的一种适应, 一般具有特定的生理和生态学功能, 影响着种群数量的变化。本文阐述了不同昆虫产卵分泌物的产生方式及物理性状, 并对产卵分泌物的组成、功能、分泌器官以及产卵分泌物中微生物的研究进展进行了综述。     

Oviposition deterrents of Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Abstract Many bruchids distribute their eggs uniformly among the host seeds available to them and tend to avoid adding eggs to seeds bearing any eggs if pristine seeds remain. Several authors have postulated that the adult cowpea seed beetles, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), produce pheromones inhibiting oviposition by females exposed to them. It is shown that both sexes produce compounds which can be washed from glass surfaces in a variety of organic solvents which do not deter oviposition as such, but seeds coated with such washings are avoided by ovipositing females when they are selecting seeds for egg-laying and uncoated seeds are available. Some components, at least, of the products persist for at least 30 days, longer than the normal development time of insects in the seeds. The compounds affect the distribution of eggs among the available seeds. At least three different biotypes of the species produce, recognize, and respond in the same way to each other's products. It is emphasized that the eggs themselves may not be the site of the product produced by females but that the physical presence of eggs cannot be overlooked in any discussion of the possible role of pheromones in oviposition and egg distribution by bruchids.     

实蝇类昆虫生殖行为的研究进展

实蝇是全世界重要的农业害虫,其生殖行为规律对其防治方法的研究具有重要指导意义。本文在文献调研的基础上,对实蝇类昆虫求偶、交配和产卵等行为的最新研究进展进行综述。实蝇类昆虫具有非资源型交配系统,性内、性间选择共同驱动实蝇的性特征进化;同时,实蝇生殖行为受到性信息素、翅信号、物理、化学以及环境等因素的影响。此外,雌虫在交配后会为理想产卵位置发生竞争,而产卵标记信息素起着调节作用。实蝇类昆虫的诸多生殖行为研究结果已成功应用于田间防治,取得了较好的效果。     

拟寄生蜂搜索产卵过程中对寄主的竞争

综述拟寄生蜂搜索产卵过程中对寄主竞争的最新研究进展.这类竞争具有四种方式,即标记寄主、杀卵和杀幼、守护寄主和捕食寄主.（1）标记寄主常涉及寄主标记信息素,这是由雌蜂在产卵前、产卵时或产卵后分泌的化学物质.寄主标记信息素常介导拟寄生蜂对已寄生和健康寄主的辨别、减少过寄生和多寄生、减轻种内和种间竞争压力.（2）雌蜂遇到已寄生寄主时,很多种类杀死前一雌蜂遗留的卵和幼虫,再产下自己的卵.雌蜂使用三种方法杀卵和杀幼,即产卵器穿刺、取食和使用有毒物质.通过杀卵和杀幼,产卵雌蜂清除了前一雌蜂遗留的后代,主动改善了寄主品质,从而有利于自身后代的生存.（3）守护寄主在肿腿蜂科、缘腹细蜂科、金小蜂科、缨小蜂科和茧蜂科中均有报道,守护者驱逐入侵者以保护后代及健康寄主.（4）捕食寄主不仅减少了健康寄主数量,且直接导致已寄生寄主中拟寄生蜂卵和幼虫的死亡.雌蜂一般在体内成熟卵量较少时捕食寄主.讨论了研究拟寄生蜂搜索产卵过程中竞争寄主的理论意义和实际应用价值.     

苜蓿盲蝽气味分子结合蛋白AlinOBP2结合特性初步分析

昆虫具有灵敏的嗅觉系统,能够特异性地识别性信息素和寄主挥发物来进行寻找配偶、定位寄主植物和产卵位点.气味分子结合蛋白在昆虫嗅觉识别过程中发挥关键作用.本研究表达和纯化了一个新的苜蓿盲蝽气味分子结合蛋白AlinOBP2,采用qRT-PCR方法解析了AlinOBP2基因的表达谱,结果表明AlinOBP2绝大部分在触角中表达,且在雌雄触角中的表达量相当,在头部也有少量的表达.以N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine（1-NPN）为荧光探针,采用荧光竞争结合实验研究了5种性信息素类似物和13种棉花挥发物与AlinOBP2蛋白的结合能力.结果显示,5种性信息素类似物均不能和AlinOBP2有效结合,暗示AlinOBP2在苜蓿盲蝽寻找配偶过程中不发挥作用.在13种棉花挥发物中,庚酸乙酯和AlinOBP2的结合能力最强,结合常数为9.22μmol/L.二甲基萘、3-己酮、乙酸叶醇酯、乙酸壬酯、香芹醇5种化合物和AlinOBP2结合能力一般,结合常数分别为15.49,17.31,21.53,18.86和13.47μmol/L.据此推测,AlinOBP2可能为普通气味结合蛋白,能够选择性地结合某些棉花挥发物并参与苜蓿盲蝽识别普通气味过程.     

Circadian Reproductive Rhythms, Pair-Bonding, and Evidence for Sex-Specific Pheromones in Nadezhdiella cantori (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Mating and oviposition rhythms and evidence for sex-specific pheromones of the gray-black citrus longicorn beetle Nadezhdiella cantori were investigated. The reproductive and flight activities of this insect mainly occurred between 1700 and 2400 h, and each activity had two peaks with the first one taking place within the 3 h before sunset (2100 h) and the second occurring within the 3 h after sunset. Circadian rhythms of mating and oviposition were significantly correlated but neither mating nor oviposition was significantly correlated with flight. It is suggested that mating and oviposition repeat in turn during pair-bonding and that flight is an indication of termination of reproductive activities in some individuals of a population. Males differentiated between sexes by touching. Mating behavior of males was stimulated by a contact female sex pheromone on the female body surface. Fighting behavior of males was mediated by a chemical on the male body surface. Females left trails of the contact sex pheromone on the trees when walking, which males used to locate them. Implications of these findings are discussed.     

Intimate Rendezvous in a Tritrophic Context? Nothing but the Girls for Male Lysiphlebus testaceipes

In insects, mating often occurs after natal dispersal, and hence relies on a coevolved combination of sexual communication and movement allowing mate encounter. Volatile sex pheromones are widespread, generally emitted by females and triggering in‐flight orientation of conspecific males. In parasitoid wasps, unmated females can start laying unfertilized eggs via parthenogenesis so that host patches could serve as sites of rendezvous for mating. Males could therefore use cues associated with host patches to focus their search on females that have successfully found oviposition sites. We hypothesized that in parasitoids exploiting herbivorous hosts, sex pheromones, and herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPV) should act in synergy, triggering male orientation toward ovipositing females. We tested this hypothesis with the aphid parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes. Results from both field and laboratory experiments show that males are strongly attracted to virgin females, but that volatiles from aphid‐infested plants have no effect on male orientation, neither has a cue, nor in interaction with the female sex pheromone. The absence of synergy between sex pheromones and HIPV contrasts with results on other species and raises interesting questions on mating systems and sexual selection in parasitoid wasps.     

Is aggregated oviposition by the blow flies Lucilia sericata and Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) really pheromone‐mediated?

When female blow flies Lucilia sericata and Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) oviposit in aggregations on carrion, even‐aged larval offspring reportedly develop faster, and fewer are parasitized or preyed upon. The benefits of aggregated oviposition equally affect con‐ and heterospecific larvae sharing a resource. The benefits imply that female blow flies engage in coordinated, pheromone‐mediated oviposition behavior. Yet, repeated attempts to identify oviposition pheromones have failed invoking doubt that they exist. Simply by regurgitating and feeding on carrion, flies may produce attractive semiochemicals. If flies were to aggregate in response to feeding flies rather than ovipositing flies, then the semiochemical cue(s) may be associated with the salivary gland. Working with L. sericata and P. regina and using liver as a surrogate oviposition medium, we test the hypotheses, and present data in their support, that (i) gravid or nongravid females ovipositing and/or feeding on liver enhance its attractiveness to gravid and nongravid females; (ii) females respond to semiochemicals from feeding heterospecific females; (iii) females respond equally well to semiochemicals from feeding con‐ and heterospecific females; (iv) macerated head tissues of females applied to liver enhance its attractiveness; and (v) females in direct contact with and feeding on liver, but not when next to yet physically separated from liver, enhance attraction of flies. We conclude that oviposition site‐seeking females do not respond to an oviposition pheromone. Instead, they appear to coopt semiochemicals associated with feeding flies as resource indicators, taking chances that resources are suitable for oviposition, and that ovipositing flies are present.     

农业昆虫气味受体功能研究进展

昆虫主要依靠嗅觉系统寻找食物、发现配偶、控制交配、选择产卵地、逃避天敌等,因此嗅觉系统对昆虫的繁殖和生存至关重要.气味受体(odorant receptor,OR)是嗅觉系统中的关键成分之一,可被信息化合物激活引发特定行为产生.随着测序技术的发展,大量的农业昆虫的基因组和转录组被测序,从测序数据中分析获得了它们的OR家...     

Responses of Adult Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) to Light and Combinations of Attractants and Light

Responses of adult Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) to light alone and to a combination of attractant(s) and green/UV lights were studied. When P. interpunctella adults were given a choice between dark areas and areas illuminated with UV, green, or white light, they rested preferentially on surfaces in the illuminated areas. UV light elicited the strongest of the positive phototactic responses. Light traps were not as effective as traps baited with pheromones or food lures in capturing adult moths, and combining green or UV light with these attractants did not significantly increase the trap catches. Gravid females required a period of darkness to realize maximum oviposition, and illumination above 8 lx during the scotophase of a 24-hr light–dark cycle inhibited oviposition.     

Smells like aphids: orchid flowers mimic aphid alarm pheromones to attract hoverflies for pollination

Most insects are dependent on chemical communication for activities such as mate finding or host location. Several plants, and especially orchids, mimic insect semiochemicals to attract insects for unrewarded pollination. Here, we present a new case of pheromone mimicry found in the terrestrial orchid Epipactis veratrifolia. Flowers are visited and pollinated by several species of aphidophagous hoverflies, the females of which also often lay eggs in the flowers. The oviposition behaviour of these hoverflies is mainly guided by aphid-derived kairomones. We show that the flowers produce α- and β-pinene, β-myrcene and β-phellandrene, and that these compounds attract and induce oviposition behaviour in female hoverflies. This floral odour profile is remarkably similar to the alarm pheromone released by several aphid species, such as Megoura viciae. We therefore suggest that E. veratrifolia mimics aphid alarm pheromones to attract hoverflies for pollination; this is the first time, to our knowledge, that such a case of mimicry has been demonstrated.     

Increased behavioral and neuronal sensitivity to sex pheromone after brief odor experience in a moth

Plasticity in the response to stimuli related to food and oviposition cues is well documented in insects. However, responses to cues related to reproduction, for example, sex pheromones, are considered to be innate and thus not affected by experience. Here we show that brief preexposure to sex pheromones, without ensuing reward, lowers the threshold for behavioral response and augments the sensitivity in antennal lobe interneurons to pheromone compared with naive male moths. Thus, the sex pheromone system in insects can be modulated by experience. In addition, we show that the behavioral attraction to sex pheromone increases after preexposure in a time-dependent manner: a short-term effect, possibly a form of sensitization, and a long-term effect after more than 24 h. The behavioral long-term effect is paralleled by an increase in sensitivity of interneurons in the primary olfactory center, whereas the peripheral olfactory system does not change its sensitivity. We hypothesize that short-term sensitization to sex pheromone serves as a kind of alert system, whereas the long-term effect improves male performance when reproductively active females are present.     

Responses of the sheep blowflies Lucilia sericata and Lcuprina to odour and the development of semiochemical baits

Abstract. The literature relating to the attraction of the sheep blowflies Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina to their ovine hosts is reviewed. The responses of the two species are similar and different components of the behaviour leading to host location and oviposition appear to involve at least two distinct sets of semiochemical cues. Activation, upwind orientation and landing appear to occur in response to putrefactive sulphur-rich volatiles, originating from bacterial decomposition products. Oviposition is elicited primarily by the presence of ammonia-rich compounds; moisture, pheromones and tactile stimuli may also act as oviposition stimuli. There is a pronounced sex difference in the response of Lucilia to semiochemicals with a higher proportion of females attracted than males and a higher proportion of gravid than non-gravid females. While the mechanisms of host location by Lucilia are of intrinsic interest, understanding the responses to semiochemicals is important in the attempt to develop powerful synthetic baits for deployment with the traps or targets used for population sampling or suppression. The literature is discussed with respect to the development of synthetic semiochemical baits.