Wednesday, December 12, 2007
D0490

Differential plant volatile induction by two noctuid caterpillars

Christina Harris, cmh347@psu.edu, Penn State University, Center for Chemical Ecology, 121 Chemical Ecology Lab, Orchard Road, University Park, PA

The generalist caterpillar Trichoplusia ni has been reported to be more heavily parasitized by a wasp Cotesia marginiventris in the presence of another generalist herbivore, Spodoptera exigua. While much literature supports the attraction of parasitoids to S. exigua induced plant volatiles, little is known about how volatile induction varies between these two species. Volatile collections from damaged and undamaged plants show that these two species induce different compounds both qualitatively and quantitatively in cotton and collards. Further work is being done to determine whether these differences in plant response can be soley attributed to species-specific herbivore elictors, and whether parasitoids can distinguish between the different volatile blends in a lab setting.


Species 1: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Trichoplusia ni (cabbage looper)
Species 2: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Spodoptera exigua (beet armyworm)
Species 3: Hymenoptera Braconidae Cotesia marginiventris