Abstract
Virtually nothing is known about the role plant volatiles play in host-finding by Homoptera in the Suborder Auchenorrhyncha. In laboratory bioassays, we examined the influence of plant volatiles on orientation and postcontact behaviors of the leafhopper,Dalbulus maidis, and determined the relationship between visual and olfactory stimuli during host-finding. When compared to the number of contacts made with reflected green light in the presence of a hexane control,D. maidis made more contacts when exposed to volatile extracts from its preferred host, maize; a similar number of contacts when exposed to volatiles from a marginal host, gamagrass; and fewer contacts when exposed to volatiles from a nonhost, sorghum. There was no difference between males and females in the number of contacts made with green light when exposed to maize volatiles compared to hexane alone. More contacts were made with green light than with white light of similar intensity, both in the presence and in the absence of olfactory stimuli; however, maize volatiles acted as a Synergist by increasing the number of contacts leafhoppers made with green light. After contacting the green light, exposure of maize volatiles significantly increased, relative to hexane, the amount of stationary time, but did not influence the amount of time spent moving, the distance traveled, or the speed while moving when within the boundaries of the green light. This study provides the first evidence for an interaction between visual and olfactory stimuli during host-finding for a leafhopper and also for olfactory mediation of postcontact behaviors not associated with feeding.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Backus, E.A. 1985. Anatomical and sensory mechanisms of leafhopper and planthopper feeding behavior, pp. 163–194,in L.R. Nault and J.G. Rodriguez (eds). The Leafhoppers and Planthoppers. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Bromley, A.K., andAnderson, M. 1982. An electrophysiological study of olfaction in the aphidNasonovia ribis-nigri.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 32:101–110.
Buttery, R.G., andLing, L.C. 1984. Corn leaf volatiles: Identification using Tenax trapping for possible insect attractants.J. Agric. Food Chem. 32:1104–1106.
Cardé, R.T. andBaker, T.C. 1984. Sexual communication with pheromones, pp. 355–383,in W.J. Bell and R.T. Cardé (eds.). Chemical Ecology of Insects. Sinauer Assoc., Sunderland, Massachusetts.
Chapman, R.F., Bernays, E.A., andSimpson, S.J. 1981. Attraction and repulsion of the aphid,Cavariella aegopodii, by plant odors.J. Chem. Ecol. 7:881–888.
Claridge, M.F. 1985. Acoustic signals in the Homoptera: behavior, taxonomy, and evolution.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 30:297–317.
Dreyer, D.L., Reese, J.C., andJones, K.C. 1981. Aphid feeding deterrents in sorghum: Bioas- say, isolation, and characterization.J. Chem. Ecol. 7:273–284.
Eisenbach, J., andMittler, T.E. 1987. Sex pheromone discrimination by male aphids of a bio- type ofSchizaphis graminum.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 43:181–182.
Hansson, B.S., Van Der Pers, S.N.C., andLöfquist, J. 1989. Comparison of male and female olfactory cell response to pheromone compounds and plant volatiles in the turnip moth,Agrotis segetum.Physiol. Entomol. 14:147–155.
Heady, S.E., andNault, L.R. 1985. Escape behavior inDalbulus andBaldulus leafhoppers.Environ. Entomol. 14:155–158.
Heady, S.E., Nault, L.R., Shambaugh, G.F., andFairchild, L. 1986. Acoustic and mating behavior ofDalbulus leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadellidae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 79:727- 736.
Hunt, R.E. 1988. Transmission of maize chlorotic dwarf virus and studies of the biology of its leafhopper vector,Graminella nigrifrons. PhD dissertation. The Ohio State University, Columbus.
Khan, Z.R., Saxena, R.C., andRueda, B.P. 1988. Responses of rice-infesting and grass-infesting populations ofNilaparvata lugens (Homoptera: Delphacidae) to rice plants andLeersia grass and to their steam distillate extracts.J. Econ. Entomol. 81:1080–1088.
Klein, U., Bock, C., Kafka, W.A., andMoore, T.E. 1988. Antennal sensilla ofMagicicada cassini (Fisher) (Homoptera: Cicadidae): Fine structure and electrophysiological evidence for olfaction.Int. J. Insect Morphol. Embryol. 17:153–167.
Miller, J.R., andStrickler, K.L. 1984. Finding and accepting host plants, pp. 127–157,in W.J. Bell and R.T. Cardé (eds.). The Chemical Ecology of Insects. Sinauer Assoc., Sunderland, Massachusetts.
Nault, L.R. 1985. Evolutionary relationship between maize leafhoppers and their host plants, pp. 309–330,in L.R. Nault and J.G. Rodriguez (eds.). The Leafhoppers and Planthoppers. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Nault, L.R. 1990. Evolution of an insect pest: Maize and the corn leafhopper, a case study.Maydica 35:165–175.
Nault, L.R., andMadden, L.V. 1985. Ecological strategies ofDalbulus leafhoppers.Ecol. Entomol. 10:57–63.
Nault, L.R., andPhelan, P.L. 1984. Alarm pheromones and sociality in presocial insects, pp. 237–256,in W.J. Bell and R.T. Cardé (eds.). The Chemical Ecology of Insects. Sinauer Assoc., Sunderland, Massachusetts.
Nault, L.R., Wood, T.K., andGoff, A.M. 1974. Treehopper (Membracidae) alarm pheromones.Nature 149:387–388.
Pettersson, J. 1970. Studies onRhopalosiphum padi (L.) I. Laboratory studies on olfactometric responses to the winter hostPrunus padus L.Lantbrukshoegsk. Ann. 36:381–399.
Power, A.G. 1987. Plant community diversity, herbivore movement, and insect-transmitted dis- ease of maize.Ecology 68:1658–1669.
Prokopy, R.J., andOwens, E.D. 1983. Visual detection of plants by hebivorous insects.Anna. Rev. Entomol 28:337–364.
Saxena, K.N., andSaxena, R.C. 1974. Patterns of relationships between certain leafhoppers and plants. Part III. Role of sensory stimuli in orientation and feeding.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 17:493- 503.
Saxena, K.N., Gandhi, J.R., andSaxena, R.C. 1974. Patterns of relationships between certain leafhoppers and plants. I. Responses to plants.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 17:303–318.
Scriber, J.M., andSlansky, F., Jr. 1981. The nutritional ecology of immature insects.Anna. Rev. Entomol. 26:183–211.
Tamaki, G., Butt, B.A. andLandis, B.J. 1970. Arrest and aggregation of maleMyzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 63:955–960.
Thompson, A.C., Hedin, P.A., Gueldner, R.C., andDavis, F.M. 1974. Corn bud essential oil.Phytochemistry 13:2029–2032.
Todd, J.L., Harris, M.O., andNault, L.R. 1990a. Importance of color stimuli in host-finding byDalbulus leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadellidae).Entomol. Exp Appl. 54:245–255.
Todd, J.L.,Madden, L.V., andNault, L.R. 1990b. Spatial and temporal distribution and population dynamics ofDalbulus leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) on maize: host associations and pest potential.Environ. Entomol. Submitted.
Triplehorn, B.W., andNault, L.R. 1985. Phylogenetic classification of the genusDalbulus (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), and notes on the phylogeny of the Macrostelini.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 78:291–315.
Visser, J.H. 1986. Host odor perception in phytophagous insects.Anna. Rev. Entomol. 31:121- 144.
Visser, J.H., andTaanman, J.W. 1987. Odour-conditioned anemotaxis of apterous aphids (Cryptomyzus korschelti) in response to host plants.Physiol. Entomol. 12:473–479.
Yan, F.-S., andVisser, J.H. 1982. Electroantennogram responses of the cereal aphidSitobion avenue to plant volatile components, pp. 387–388,in J.H. Visser and A.K. Minks (eds.). Proceedings, 5th International Symposium on Insect-Plant Relationships. Pudoc, Wageningen.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Todd, J.L., Phelan, P.L. & Nault, L.R. Interaction between visual and olfactory stimuli during host-finding by leafhopper,Dalbulus maidis (Homoptera: Cicadellidae). J Chem Ecol 16, 2121–2133 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01026924
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01026924