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Field Evaluation of Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles as Attractants for Beneficial Insects: Methyl Salicylate and the Green Lacewing, Chrysopa nigricornis

Journal of Chemical Ecology volume 29, pages 1601–1609 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Synthetic methyl salicylate (MeSA), a herbivore-induced plant volatile (HIPV), was demonstrated to be an attractant for the green lacewing, Chrysopa nigricornis, in two field experiments conducted in a Washington hop yard. Significantly greater numbers of C. nigricornis were trapped on MeSA-baited sticky cards (mean: 2.8 ± 0.4/card/week) than on unbaited cards (0.45 ± 0.15) during June–September. Cards baited with two other HIPVs, hexenyl acetate and dimethyl nonatriene, did not attract more C. nigricornis than did unbaited traps (0.30 ± 0.10, 0.44 ± 0.15, respectively). MeSA-baited Unitraps captured 1.9 ± 0.5 C. nigricornis/trap/week during July–August compared to 0.20 ± 0.20/trap/week in methyl eugenol-baited traps and 0.03 ± 0.03/trap/week in unbaited traps. The potential use of MeSA in enhancing C. nigricornis populations in Washington hop yards as an aid to conservation biological control of aphids and mites is discussed.

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  1. Department of Entomology, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, 24105 North Bunn Road, Prosser, Washington, 99350, USA

    David G. James

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  1. David G. James
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Correspondence to David G. James.

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James, D.G. Field Evaluation of Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles as Attractants for Beneficial Insects: Methyl Salicylate and the Green Lacewing, Chrysopa nigricornis . J Chem Ecol 29, 1601–1609 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024270713493

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024270713493

  • Herbivore-induced plant volatiles
  • methyl salicylate
  • Chrysopa nigricornis
  • attractant
  • predators
  • biological control
  • hops