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Nocturnal herbivore-induced plant volatiles attract the generalist predatory earwig Doru luteipes Scudder

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Abstract

Numerous studies have demonstrated that entomophagous arthropods use herbivore-induced plant volatile (HIPV) blends to search for their prey or host. However, no study has yet focused on the response of nocturnal predators to volatile blends emitted by prey damaged plants. We investigated the olfactory behavioral responses of the night-active generalist predatory earwig Doru luteipes Scudder (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) to diurnal and nocturnal volatile blends emitted by maize plants (Zea mays) attacked by either a stem borer (Diatraea saccharalis) or a leaf-chewing caterpillar (Spodoptera frugiperda), both suitable lepidopteran prey. Additionally, we examined whether the earwig preferred odors emitted from short- or long-term damaged maize. We first determined the earwig diel foraging rhythm and confirmed that D. luteipes is a nocturnal predator. Olfactometer assays showed that during the day, although the earwigs were walking actively, they did not discriminate the volatiles of undamaged maize plants from those of herbivore damaged maize plants. In contrast, at night, earwigs preferred volatiles emitted by maize plants attacked by D. saccharalis or S. frugiperda over undamaged plants and short- over long-term damaged maize. Our GC-MS analysis revealed that short-term damaged nocturnal plant volatile blends were comprised mainly of fatty acid derivatives (i.e., green leaf volatiles), while the long-term damaged plant volatile blend contained mostly terpenoids. We also observed distinct volatile blend composition emitted by maize damaged by the different caterpillars. Our results showed that D. luteipes innately uses nocturnal herbivore-induced plant volatiles to search for prey. Moreover, the attraction of the earwig to short-term damaged plants is likely mediated by fatty acid derivatives.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. Prado (USP-ESALQ) for technical assistance.

Funding

This study was supported by the National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) Semiochemicals in Agriculture (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-CNPq Process 573761/2008-6 and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo-FAPESP Process 2008/57701-2). NNG was funded by Estudantes-Convênio de Pós-Graduação (PEC-PG) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).

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Correspondence to José Maurício S. Bento.

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Communicated by: Sven Thatje

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Naranjo-Guevara, N., Peñaflor, M.F.G.V., Cabezas-Guerrero, M.F. et al. Nocturnal herbivore-induced plant volatiles attract the generalist predatory earwig Doru luteipes Scudder. Sci Nat 104, 77 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-017-1498-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-017-1498-9

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