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Response of Female Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) to Visual Cues and Para-anisaldehyde in a Flight Chamber

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Abstract

The effect of visual cue color and size, volume of para-anisaldehyde (plant-derived semiochemical), and airflow on thrips behavior were examined in a flight chamber. After 5 min more female Frankliniella occidentalis (western flower thrips) landed on sticky traps containing yellow plastic squares (100 cm2) (55.2% of those that flew landed on the trap) than blue (21%), white (4.7%), or transparent traps (2%). The percentage of thrips caught on traps increased with increasing size of the visual cues (0 and 1 cm2 (4%), 4 cm2 (16%), 25 cm2 (44–49%), 100 cm2 (60%)). Using a yellow (100 cm2) square, fewer thrips flew in the presence of 1.0 ml (47%) or 2 ml (55%) of para-anisaldehyde than of 0.5 ml (78%). However, more thrips landed on a trap with a 100 cm2 yellow square when 1 ml of para-anisaldehyde (81%) was added than when 0.5 ml (55%) or 2 ml (62%) were added. Airflow (0–0.3 m/s) did not affect the percentage of thrips that flew or landed on traps. Results suggest that thrips responded to a yellow cue in the absence of UV. Further, the volume of para-anisladehyde affected the percentage that flew or landed on a trap containing a yellow cue.

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Acknowledgements

A postdoctoral fellowship from AGMARDT provided financial assistance for M. M. Davidson. The work was in part funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (now the Ministry of Science and Innovation).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Private Bag 4704, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Melanie M. Davidson, Ruth C. Butler & David A. J. Teulon

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  1. Melanie M. Davidson
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  2. Ruth C. Butler
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  3. David A. J. Teulon
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Correspondence to Melanie M. Davidson.

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Davidson, M.M., Butler, R.C. & Teulon, D.A.J. Response of Female Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) to Visual Cues and Para-anisaldehyde in a Flight Chamber. J Insect Behav 25, 297–307 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-011-9299-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-011-9299-z

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