Aphid deterrence by glucose esters in glandular trichome exudate of the wild tomato,Lycopersicon pennellii

Settling of the potato aphid,Macrosiphum euphorbiae, on feeding membranes was deterred by methanolic leaf rinses ofLycopersicon pennellii, or of its F₁ with tomato,L. esculentum. The active compounds in theL. pennellii rinsates were identified as 2,3,4-tri-O-acylglucoses bearing short to medium chain length fatty acids. These compounds are localized in the glandular exudate of the type IV trichomes and may accumulate to levels in excess of 400 g/cm². In choice assays, purified glucose esters fromL. pennellii reduced aphid settling at concentrations as low as 25 g/cm²; at concentrations of 150 g/cm² or more, all aphids avoided treated areas. Glucose esters were also active in deterring aphid settling in no-choice assays. At 100 g/ cm², these esters resulted in increased levels of mortality after 48 hr.     

Sugarcane Serine Peptidase Inhibitors,Serine Peptidases,and Clp Protease System Subunits Associated with Sugarcane Borer (Diatraea saccharalis) Herbivory and Wounding

Sugarcane’s (Saccharum spp.) response to Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: (Crambidae) herbivory was investigated using a macroarray spotted with 248 sugarcane Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) encoding serine peptidase inhibitors, serine peptidases. and Clp protease system subunits. Our results showed that after nine hours of herbivory, 13 sugarcane genes were upregulated and nine were downregulated. Among the upregulated genes, nine were similar to serine peptidase inhibitors and four were similar to Bowman-Birk Inhibitors (BBIs). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these sequences belong to a phylogenetic group of sugarcane BBIs that are potentially involved in plant defense against insect predation. The remaining four upregulated genes included serine peptidases and one homolog to the Arabidopsis AAA+ chaperone subunit ClpD, which is a member of the Clp protease system. Among the downregulated genes, five were homologous to serine peptidases and four were homologous to Arabidopsis Clp subunits (three homologous to Clp AAA+ chaperones and one to a ClpP-related ClpR subunit). Although the roles of serine peptidase inhibitors in plant defenses against herbivory have been extensively investigated, the roles of plant serine peptidases and the Clp protease system represent a new and underexplored field of study. The up- and downregulated D. saccharalis genes presented in this study may be candidate genes for the further investigation of the sugarcane response to herbivory.     

Variation in relative quantities of airborne sex pheromone components from individual femaleEphestia cautella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The airborne sex pheromone components (Z,E)-9,12-tetradeca-dien-1-yl acetate and (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-y1 acetate from single calling females ofEphestia cautella (Walker) were trapped within glass capillary tubes and were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Broad and similar distributions of relative quantities were found for a laboratory strain and three Australian field strains, and means differed strongly from those reported previously for this species. The overall mean proportion of the two components found for Australian females was 8812. The composition in individuals ranged from 6327 to 973. The proportions for individuals appeared to vary slightly in a random fashion from day to day, and proportions for first-generation progeny were influenced by the maternal blend.Author order in this paper is alphabetical     

Trail-following pheromones of the rhinotermitidae: Approaches to their authentication and specificity

A method for determining the authenticity of subterranean termite trail pheromones is suggested and utilized to verify the presence of trail pheromones inReticulitermes virginicus, R. flavipes, andR. tibialis. In addition, a possible trail pheromone has been demonstrated forCoptotermes formosanus. A choice bioassay method shows that the above trail pheromones are species specific.     

Response to pheromone traps and disruption of pheromone communication in the lesser peachtree borer and the peachtree borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)

The sex pheromone communication of the lesser peachtree borer,Synanthedon pictipes (Grote and Robinson), and the peachtree borer,Sanninoidea exitiosa (Say), can be disrupted by permeation of the atmosphere with their respective sex pheromones, (E,Z)- and (Z,Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate. The two isomers seemed equally effective against both species. Disruption was greatest when the pheromone was evaporated from the tops of the peach trees; also, pheromone traps placed in the tree tops captured significantly more males than did traps placed lower in the trees. Neither the color nor the directional placement in a tree (NE, NW, SE, SW) of pheromone-baited traps influenced captures of male lesser peachtree borers.Mention of a commercial or proprietary product in this paper does not constitute a recommendation or an endorsement of that product by the USDA.     

The chemical basis of attraction of ithomiine butterflies to plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids

The plantHeliotropium indicum L. (Boraginaceae) contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids. When dried, it is a powerful attractant for male ithomiine and danaine butterflies, which congregate and feed at its dead shoots. The butterflies use alkaloids derived from the plants for the formation of chemicals with pheromone/allomone activity. Baiting with alkaloids and esterifying acids, which form a part of the alkaloid molecules, indicates that a volatile product derived from the esterifying acids attracts males to the plants, where intact alkaloids then act as phagostimulants.     

Rat olfactory response to aliphatic acetates

Volatile compounds of the male rat preputial gland extracts were found to containn-aliphatic acetates, by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Female rats preferred the odor of various saturated and unsaturatedn-aliphatic acetates while the male rats were repelled by or indifferent to, most of these compounds. A bioassay apparatus recorded the number of approaches and the investigation time for each animal offered the test compounds. The possibility of aliphatic acetates' involvement as sex attractants produced by the male rat is considered.     

Adaptive relationships of epoxide hydrolase in herbivorous arthropods

Epoxide hydrolase catalyzes a simple hydrolysis of reactive cyclic ethers that may otherwise alkylate and impair critical proteins and nucleic acids required for life. Although much less studied than the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases that produce epoxides, differences in subcellular, tissue, pH, substrate, and inhibitor specificities argue for at least three forms of insect epoxide hydrolase. Increasing numbers of epoxides are being identified as plant allelochemicals, antifeedants, and essential hormones or precursors for herbivorous arthropods, and in many cases an associated alkene to diol pathway of metabolism is found. A role for epoxide hydrolase in arthropod-plant interactions is strongly supported by species comparisons and by age-activity and induction studies. Two major limitations for study in biochemical ecology of epoxide hydrolase are the lack of an effective in vivo inhibitor and a range of commercially available radiolabeled substrates for the enzymes.     

Multivariate analysis of the correlation between noctuidae subfamilies and the chemical structure of their sex pheromones or male attractants

Female-emitted pheromones and sex attractants of Noctuidae were investigated using a specific computer procedure to analyze data collected from the literature. Correspondence analysis was used to survey the structure-activity relationships of sex pheromones in seven subfamilies. Structural, stereochemical, and functional features of active molecules were related to taxonomy. This multidimensional analysis revealed that the prevalent chemical frame of noctuid moth pheromones was a monounsaturated acetate withZ stereochemistry and a double bond on the fifth carbon closest to the nonfunctional branch of the molecule. Possible phylogenetic relationships within Noctuidae and between Noctuidae and other families are discussed in light of the sex pheromone biochemistry. Female sex pheromones appeared to be an additional character to be considered in the classification of noctuid moths.     

Chemical trail marking and following by caterpillars ofMalacosoma neustria

Chemical trail marking and following by gregarious caterpillars,Malacosoma neustria L. (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), was studied in the laboratory. As in other species ofMalacosoma, larvae deposit a trail pheromone from a sternal secretory site when searching the host for food. Larvae in the vanguard of foraging columns establish chemical trails as they explore new territory. Marking behavior diminishes as successive unfed foragers utilize the trail. These exploratory trails are subsequently overmarked by fed larvae returning to the tent. Other foragers follow the trails of fed larvae in preference to trails of unfed larvae. Thus, like the eastern tent caterpillar,M. americanum, successful foragers ofM. neustria recruit colony-mates to feeding sites. The chemical activity of both recruitment and exploratory trails degrades slowly, suggesting that the trail pheromone ofM. neustria is a nonvolatile substance. Caterpillars ofM. neustria readily follow the nonvolatile trail pheromone which has been identified fromM. americanum, 5-cholestane-3,24-dione.