Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Host-marking pheromones in lepidoptera, with special reference to twoPieris spp

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Adult females of several lepidopteran species avoid oviposition near conspecific eggs. Laboratory and field studies indicate that visual factors as well as chemical host markers may be involved in egg avoidance behavior. The oviposition-deterring pheromones (ODP) of two pierids,P. brassicae andP. rapae have been studied in considerable detail. The ODPs are probably produced in the female accessory glands and contain volatile and nonvolatile components. They are perceived by nonspecialized antennal or tarsal receptors, respectively. The ODP ofP. brassicae affects oviposition ofP. rapae females and vice versa. ODPs show promise for insect control programs, but more information on oviposition behavior in the presence of ODP under field conditions is required.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Averill, A.J., andProkopy, R.J. 1987. Residual activity of oviposition-deterring pheromone inRhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) and female response to infested fruit.J. Chem. Ecol. 13:167–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Behan, M., andSchoonhoven, L.M. 1978. Chemoreception of an oviposition deterrent associated with eggs inPieris brassicae.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 24:163–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boller, E.F., Schöni, R., andBush, G.L. 1987. Oviposition deterring pheromone inRhagoletis cerasi: Biological activity of a pure single compound verified by semi-field test.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 45:17–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowdan, E. 1984. Electrophysiological responses of tarsal contact chemoreceptors of the apple maggot flyRhagoletis pomonella to salt, sucrose and oviposition-deterrent pheromone.J. Comp. Physiol. A 154:143–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brantjes, N.B.M. 1976. Prevention of superparasitation ofMelandrium flowers (Caryophyllaceae) byHadena (Lepidoptera).Oecologia 24:1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crnjar, R.M., andProkopy, R.J. 1982. Morphological and electrophysiological mapping of tar-sal chemoreceptors of oviposition-deterring pheromone inRhagoletis pomonella flies.J. Insect Physiol. 28:393–400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, C.A., Erickson, J.M., Kellett, D.N., andRothschild, M. 1978. Some adaptations betweenDanaus plexippus and its food plants, with notes onDanaus chrysippus andEuploea core (Insecta: Lepidoptera).J. Zool. London 185:437–467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, L.E. 1975. Ecological consequences of a coevolved mutualism between butterflies and plants, pp. 210–240,in L.E. Gilbert and P.H. Raven (eds.). Coevolution of Animals and Plants. University of Texas Press, Austin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinton, H.E. 1981. Biology of Insect Eggs. Pergamon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, R.E. 1977. Movement patterns and egg distribution in cabbage butterflies.J. Anim. Ecol. 46:195–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jutsum, A.R., andGordon, R.F.S. 1989. Insect Pheromones in Plant Protection. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katsoyannos, B.I., andBoller, E.F. 1976. First field application of oviposition deterring pheromone of European cherry fruit fly,Rhagoletis cerasi. Environ. Entomol. 5:151–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katsoyannos, B.I., andBöller, E.F. 1980. Second field application of oviposition deterring pheromones of the European cherry fruit fly,Rhagoletis cerasi. Z. Angew. Entomol. 89:278–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellogg, T. 1985. Egg dispersion patterns and egg avoidance behavior in the butterflyPieris sisymbrii Bdv. (Pieridae).J. Lepid. Soc. 39:268–275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, W., andSpence, W. 1863. An Introduction to Entomology, 7th ed. Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts and Green, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klijnstra, J.W. 1985. Oviposition behaviour as influenced by the oviposition deterring pheromone in the large white butterfly,Pieris brassicae. PhD thesis. Agricultural University, Wageningen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klijnstra, J.W. 1986. The effect of an oviposition deterring pheromone on egg-laying inPieris brassicae.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 41:139–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klijnstra, J.W., andRoessingh, P. 1986. Perception of the oviposition deterring pheromone by tarsal and abdominal contact chemoreceptors inPieris brassicae.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 40:71–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klijnstra, J.W., andSchoonhoven, L.M. 1987. Effectiveness and persistence of the oviposition deterring pheromone ofPieris brassicae in the field.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 45:227–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, S. 1965. Influence of parental density on the distribution pattern of eggs in the common cabbage butterfly,Pieris rapae crucivora. Res. Popul. Ecol. 7:109–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mangel, M., andRoitberg, B.D. 1989. Dynamic information and host acceptance by a tephritid fruit fly.Ecol. Entomol. 14:181–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuda, R. 1976. Morphology and Evolution of the Insect Abdomen. Pergamon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noldus, L.P.J.J., andVan Lenteren, J.C. 1985. Kairomones for the egg parasiteTrichogramma evanescens Westwood: II. Effect of contact chemicals produced by two of its hosts,Pieris brassicae L. andPieris rapae L.J. Chem. Ecol. 11:793–800.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordlund, D.A., Strand, M.R., Lewis, W.J., andVinson, S.B. 1987. Role of kairomones from host accessory gland secretion in host recognition byTelenomus remus andTrichogramma pretiosum, with partial characterization.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 44:37–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otter, C.J. Den, Behan, M., andMaes, F.W. 1980. Single cell responses in femalePieris brassicae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) to plant volatiles and conspecific egg odours.J. Insect Physiol. 26:465–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pak, G.A., andDe Jong, E.J. 1987. Behavioural variations among strains ofTrichogramma spp.: Host recognition.Neth. J. Zool. 37:137–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prokopy, R.J. 1981. Epideictic pheromones that influence spacing patterns of phytophagous insects, pp. 181–213,in D.A. Nordlund, R.L. Jones, and W.J. Lewis (eds.). Semiochemicals, Their Role in Pest Control. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prokopy, R.J., Reissig, W.H., andHoericke, V. 1976. Marking pheromones deterring repeated oviposition inRhagoletis flies.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 20:170–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rausher, M.D. 1979. Egg recognition: Its advantages to a butterfly.Anim. Behav. 27:1034–1040.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roitberg, B.D., andProkopy, R.J. 1987. Insects that mark host plants. An ecological, evolutionary perspective on host-marking chemicals.BioScience 37:400–406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roitberg, B.D., Van Lenteren, J.C., Van Alphen, J.J., Galis, F., andProkopy, R.J. 1982. Foraging behavior ofRhagoletis pomonella, a parasite of hawthorn (Crataegus), in nature.J. Anim. Ecol. 51:307–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothschild, M. 1987. Speculations concerning the Large White Butterfly (Pieris brassicae L.): Do the females assess the number of suitable host plants present?, pp. 175–192,in R.F. Chapman, E.A. Bernays and J.G. Stoffolano (eds.). Perspectives in Chemoreception and Behavior. Springer-Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothschild, M., andSchoonhoven, L.M. 1977. Assessment of egg load byPieris brassicae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae).Nature 266:352–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothschild, M., Alborn, H., Stenhagen, G., andSchoonhoven, L.M. 1988. A strophanthidin glycoside in Siberian wallflower: a contact deterrent for the large white butterfly.Phytochemistry 27:101–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoonhoven, L.M., Sparnaay, T., Van Wissen, W., andMeerman, J. 1981. Seven-week persistence of an oviposition deterring pheromone.J. Chem. Ecol. 7:583–588.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoonhoven, L.M., Beerling, E.A.M., Braaksma, R., andVan Vugt, Y. 1990a. Does the imported cabbageworm,Pieris rapae, use an oviposition deterring pheromone?J. Chem. Ecol. 16:1649–1655.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoonhoven, L.M., Beerling, E. A.M., Klijnstra, J.W., andVan Vugt, Y. 1990b. Two related butterfly species avoid oviposition near each other's eggs.Experientia 46:526–528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, D.R. 1977. The corn earworm in southwestern Idaho: infestation levels and damage to processing corn and sweet corn seed.J. Econ. Entomol. 70:709–713.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, A.M. 1980. Egg-load assessment and carryover diapause inAnthocharis (Pieridae).J. Lepid. Soc. 34:307–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, A.M. 1981. The pierid red-egg syndrome.Am. Nat. 117:276–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, C.D. 1984. Oviposition and egg load assessment byAnthocharis cardamines (Lep.: Pieridae).Entomol. Gaz. 35:145–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urquhart, F.A. 1960. The Monarch Butterfly. University of Toronto Press, Toronto.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Alphen, J.J.M., andVisser, E.M. 1990. Superparasitism as an adaptive strategy for insect parasitoids.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 35:59–79.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wiklund, C., andÅhrberg, C. 1978. Host plants, nectar source plants, and habitat selection of males and females ofAnthocharis cardamines (Lepidoptera).Oikos 31:169–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, K.S., andGilbert, L.E. 1981. Insects as selective agents on plant vegetative morphology: egg mimicry reduces egg laying by butterflies.Science 212:467–469.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Agricultural University, P.O.B. 8031, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    L. M. Schoonhoven

Authors
  1. L. M. Schoonhoven
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schoonhoven, L.M. Host-marking pheromones in lepidoptera, with special reference to twoPieris spp. J Chem Ecol 16, 3043–3052 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00979611

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00979611

Key Words

Search

Navigation