Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Olfactory Cues Used in Host Selection by Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Relation to Host Suitability

  • Published:
Journal of Insect Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Olfactory responses of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) to odors from six vegetable host plants-cabbage (Brassica oleracea), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), eggplant (Solanum melongena), celery (Apium graveolens) and garlic (Allium sativum) - were measured in choice tests in a Y-tube olfactometer, while host suitability of these same plants was assessed based on life table parameters-development time, survival rates, fertility, offspring sex ratio, female longevity, and an index of population change (I) - measured on leaf disks. Olfactory response was measured on both undamaged and mechanically-damaged plants. Regardless of plant damaged, female F. occidentalis responded positively to the odors of cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, and eggplant, but showed negative responses to celery and garlic, when offered a choice of plant odor or clean air. When female thrips were offered choices between each possible pairing of undamaged plants, or pairings of mechanically-damaged plants, the order of preference was cabbage = lettuce = cucumber > eggplant > celery = garlic. Male thrips responded differently, males responded positively only to undamaged lettuce and eggplant compared to clean air, while among mechanically-damaged plants only cucumber elicited a positive response. Given a choice between all possible pairings of undamaged plants, male thrips preferred lettuce to celery, and eggplant to garlic, whereas among pairings of mechanically-damaged plants male thrips preferred lettuce to celery, and cucumber to eggplant. The order of suitability of the six host plants based on life table parameters for F. occidentalis was essentially the same as the order of preference by female thrips. These results indicate that host plant odor is an important cue for female F. occidentalis in recognizing hosts suitable for oviposition. Information on plant attraction and repellency may be useful in thrips pest management. In addition, the correspondence of preference and performance that we found suggests that evolution of local host adaptation and, perhaps, host specialization, is possible.

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

  • Agrawal AA, Colfer RG (2000) Consequences of thrips-infested plants for attraction of conspecifics and parasitoids. Ecol Entomol 25:493–496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bush GL (1969) Sympatric host race formation and speciation in frugivorous flies of the genus Rhagoletis (Diptera, Tephritidae). Evology 23:237–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao Y (2012) Host selection of Frankliniella occidentalis and its selection mechanism, Master’s thesis. Guizhou University, Guiyang

    Google Scholar 

  • Cao FQ, Liu WX, Fan ZN, Wang FH, Cheng LS (2008) Behavioural responses of Bemisia tabaci B-biotype to three host plants and their volatiles. Acta Entomol Sin 51:830–838

    Google Scholar 

  • Chau A, Heinz KM, Davies FT Jr (2005) Influences of fertilization on population abundance, distribution, and control of Frankliniella occidentalis on chrysanthemum. Entomol Exp Appl 117:27–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Childers CC, Brecht JK (1996) Colored sticky traps for monitoring Frankliniella bispinosa (Morgan) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) during flowering cycles in citrus. J Econ Entomol 89:1240–1249

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiu-Alvarado P, Rojas JC (2011) Behavioural responses of bethylid parasitoid species of the coffee berry borer to chemicals cues from host and non-host dust/frass. BioControl 56:45–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho K, Eckel CS, Walgenbach JF, Kennedy GG (1995) Comparison of colored sticky traps for monitoring thrips populations (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in staked tomato fields. J Entomol Sci 30:176–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Choh Y, Uefune M, Takabayashi J (2008) Diamondback moth females oviposit more on plants infested by non-parasitized than by parasitized conspecifics. Ecol Entomol 33:565–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colazza S, Rosi MC, Clemente A (1997) Response of egg parasitoid Telenomus busseolae to sex pheromone of Sesamia nonagrioides. J Chem Ecol 23:2437–2444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daughtrey ML, Jones RK, Moyer JW, Daub ME, Baker JR (1997) Tospoviruses strike the greenhouse industry: INSV has become a major pathogen on flower crops. Plant Dis 81:1220–1230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Kogel WJ, Koschier EH (2003) Thrips responses to plant odours. In: Marullo R, Mound L (eds) Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Thysanoptera. pp 189–190

  • de Kogel WJ, Greipink FC, van Tol RWHM, Teulon DAJ (2010) Commercialization of thrips semiochemicals. In: Persley D, Wilson C, Thomas J, Sharman M, Tree D (eds) IXth International Symposium on Thysanoptera and Tospoviruses, 31 August–4 September, 2009. J Insect Sci 10:166

  • Dicke M, van Loon JJA (2000) Multitrophic effects of herbivore-induced plant volatiles in an evolutionary context. Entomol Exp Appl 97:237–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ding YH, Zhu Ge PP, Wang MQ, Zhang GA (2010) Observation of antennal sensilla of Frankliniella occidentalis with scanning electron microscopy. Chin Bull Entomol 47:165–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobson HEM (2006) Relationship between floral fragrance composition and type of pollinator. In: Pichersky E, Dudareva N (eds) Biology of floral scent. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 147–198

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Du YJ, Poppy GM, Powell W (1996) Relative importance of semiochemicals from first and second trophic levels in host foraging behavior of Aphidius ervi. J Chem Ecol 22:1591–1605

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frey JE, Cortada RV, Helbling H (1994) The potential of flower odours for use in population monitoring of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Perg.) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Biocontrol Sci Technol 4:177–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaum WG, Giliomee JH, Pringle KL (1994) Life history and life tables of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), on English cucumbers. Bull Entomol Res 84:219–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groot AT, Timmer R, Gort G, Lelyveld GP, Drijfhout FP, van Beek TA, Visser JH (1999) Sex-related perception of insect and plant volatiles in Lygocoris pabulinus. J Chem Ecol 25:2357–2371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karban R, Baldwin IT (1997) Induced responses to herbivory. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk WDJ, Terry LI (2003) The spread of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). Agric For Entomol 5:301–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koschier EH, de Kogel WJ, Visser JH (2000) Assessing the attractiveness of volatile plant compounds to western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). J Chem Ecol 26:2643–2655

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis T (1997) Major crops infested by thrips with main symptoms and predominant injurious species (Appendix II). In: Lewis T (ed) Thrips as crop pests. CAB International, Oxon, pp 675–709

    Google Scholar 

  • Mainali BP, Lim UT (2011) Behavioral response of western flower thrips to visual and olfactory cues. J Insect Behav 6:436–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meiners T, Hacker NK, Anderson P, Hilker M (2005) Response of elm leaf beetle to host plants induced by oviposition and feeding: the infestation rate matters. Entomol Exp Appl 115:171–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller JR, Stricker KL (1984) Finding and accepting host plants. In: Bell WJ, Carde RT (eds) The chemical ecology of insects. Campman and Hall, London, pp 125–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Morse JG, Hoddle MS (2006) Invasion of biology of the thrips. Ann Rev Entomol 51:67–89

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pearsall IA (2000) Flower preference behaviour of western flower thrips in the Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada. Entomol Exp Appl 95:303–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin JD, Wang CZ (2001) The relation of interaction between insects and plants to evolution. Acta Entomol Sin 44:360–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Raguso RA, Light DM, Pickersky E (1996) Electroantennogram responses of Hyles lineata (Sphingidae: Lepidoptera) to floral volatile compounds from Clarkia breweri (Onagraceae) and other moth-pollinated flowers. J Chem Ecol 22:1735–1766

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reitz SR (2009) Biology and ecology of the western flower thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): the making of a pest. Fla Entomol 92:7–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rice WR (1987) Speciation via habitat specialization: the evolution of reproductive isolation as a correlated character. Evol Ecol 1:301–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rostás M, Eggert K (2008) Ontogenetic and spatio-temporal patterns of induced volatiles in glycine max in the light of the optimal defense hypothesis. Chemoecology 18:29–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stensmyr MC, Larsson MC, Bice S, Hansson BS (2001) Detection of fruit-and flower-emitted volatiles by olfactory receptor neurons in the polyphagous fruit chafer Pachnoda marginata (Coleoptera: Cetoniinae). J Comp Physiol A 187:509–519

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Terry LI (1997) Host selection communication and reproductive behaviour. In: Lewis T (ed) Thrips as crop pests. CAB International, Oxon, pp 65–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Teulon DAJ, Penman DR, Ramakers PMJ (1993) Volatile chemical for thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) host-finding and applications for thrips pest management. J Econ Entomol 86:1405–1415

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teulon DAJ, Hollister B, Butler RC, Cameron EA (1999) Colour and odour responses of flying western flower thrips: wind tunnel and greenhouse experiments. Entomol Exp Appl 93:9–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson JN (1988) Evolutionary ecology of the relationship between oviposition preference and performance of offspring in phytophagous insects. Entomol Exp Appl 47:3–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tooker JF, Crumrin AL, Hanks LM (2005) Plant volatiles are behavioural cues for adult females of the gall wasp Antistrophus rufus. Chemoecology 15:85–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Lenteren JC, Noldue LPJJ (1990) Whitefly-plant relationships: behavioral and ecological aspects. In: Gerling D (ed) Whiteflies: their bionomics, pest status and management. Intercept Ltd., Andover, pp 47–49

    Google Scholar 

  • van Rijn PCJ, Mollema C, Steenhuis-Broers GM (1995) Comparative life history studies of Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), on cucumber. Bull Entomol Res 85:285–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Tol RWHM, James DE, de Kogel WJ, Teulon DAJ (2007) Plant odours with potential for a push-pull strategy to control the onion thrips, Thrips tabaci. Entomol Exp Appl 122:69–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Via S (1999) Reproductive isolation between sympatric races of pea aphids. I. Gene flow restriction and habitat choice. Evology 53:1446–1457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vinson SB (1985) The behaviour of parasitoids. In: Kerkut GA, Gilbert LI (eds) Comprehensive insect physiology biochemistry and pharmacology, vol 9. Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 417–489

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinson SB (1998) The general host selection behavior of parasitoid Hymenoptera and a comparison of initial strategies utilized by larvaphagous and oophagous species. Biol Control 11:79–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watt KFF (1963) Mathematical population models for five agricultural crop pests. Mem Can Entomol Soc 32:83–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitlock MC (1996) The red queen beats the jack-of-all-trades: the limitations on the evolution of phenotypic plasticity and niche breadth. Am Nat 148:S65–S77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams IIIL, Blackmer JL, Rodriguez-Saona C, Zhu S (2010) Plant volatiles influence electrophysiological and behavioral responses of Lygus hesperus. J Chem Ecol 36:467–478

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yoneya K, Kugimiya S, Takabayashi J (2009) Do adult leaf beetles (Plagiodera versicolora) discriminate between odors from intact and leaf-beetle-infested willow shoots? J Plant Inter 4:125–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong F, He YR, Gao Y, Zhao CY, Li SM, Shao XY, Lu LH (2010) Host preference of Frankliniella occidentalis to three species of Solanaceae Family. Acta Agric Univ Jiangxiensis 32:472–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhong F, He YR, Gao Y, Qi GJ, Zhao CY, Lu LH (2011) Olfactory responses of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to odors of host plants and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)–plant complexes. Arthropod-Plant Interact 4:315–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • zu Dohna H (2006) The distribution of eggs per host in a herbivorous insect-intersection of oviposition, dispersal and population dynamics. J Ani Ecol 75:387–395

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Yixian Kong (Guizhou University, China) for general assistance, Drs. Kun Yan Zhu and James Nechols (Kansas State University, USA) and Dr. Fengming Yan (Henan Agricultural University, China) for comments on the manuscript, and several anonymous reviewers for suggestions that improved the manuscript. The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project number: 31060244, 31160367) and International Cooperation Research (Project number: G[2011]7002) of Guizhou Science and Technology Department, the People’s Republic of China.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Provincial Key Laboratory for Agricultural Pest Management of Mountainous Region, Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China

    Yu Cao, Junrui Zhi & Chunlei Cong

  2. Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, 123 West Waters Hall, Manhattan, KS, 66056, USA

    David C. Margolies

  3. Biology and Environmental Engineering Department, Guiyang University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550005, China

    Yu Cao

Authors
  1. Yu Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Junrui Zhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chunlei Cong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. David C. Margolies
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Junrui Zhi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cao, Y., Zhi, J., Cong, C. et al. Olfactory Cues Used in Host Selection by Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Relation to Host Suitability. J Insect Behav 27, 41–56 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-013-9405-5

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-013-9405-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation