Abstract
Virgin females of the citrophilous mealybugPseudococcus calceolariae (Mask.) deposit scent marks as trails on the substrate on which they rest or move. These substances elicit attraction and sexual behavior by conspecific males. The same responses were obtained when males were bioassayed on extracts from filter paper disks on which females had rested. The significance of scent trailing in mealybugs is discussed.
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References
Doane, C.C. 1966. Evidence for a sex attractant in females of the red pine scale.J. Econ. Entomol. 59:1539–1540.
Rotundo, G. 1978. Isolamento massale di femmine vergini diPseudococcus calceolariae (Mask.) mediante l'uso di un ormone giovanile.Boll. Lab. Entomol. Agr. “F. Silvestri” Portici 35:162–168.
Rotundo, G., andTremblay, E. 1974. Studi su un feromone sessuale delPlanococcus citri (Risso). II. Estrazione.Boll. Lab. Entomol. Agr. “F. Silvestri” Portici 31:121–131.
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Homoptera, Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae.
This work was supported by the Italian National Research Council (CNR).
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Rotundo, G., Tremblay, E. Scent trailing by virgin females ofPseudococcm calceolariae . J Chem Ecol 7, 85–88 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988636
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988636