Modification of Behavioral Response inCopitarsia decolora(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Due to Pre-Exposure to Sex Pheromone and Host Plant Volatiles

Abstract

In this study we assessed the effect of pre-exposure to host sex pheromones and plant volatiles on the response of virgin males and mated females of Copitarsia decolora (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), by using glandular extracts of virgin females and host volatile extracts in bioassays conducted in a wind tunnel. Four-day-old insects, either virgin males pre-exposed to glandular extracts of the sex pheromone or mated females pre-exposed to host volatiles, were evaluated 2, 24, and 48 h after pre-exposure. In both sexes, pre-exposure and a subsequent attraction response at 2 h resulted in an inhibitory effect on the olfactory response. Recovery in the olfactory response was observed at 24 and 48 h; however, it took males a shorter activation time when compared with control insects. A brief pre-exposure of insects provoked a short-term (2 h) inhibition of the response to the olfactory stimulus. Consequently, as an integral part of strategies for the management of this pest species, the study of the ecological implications of such inhibition should be considered.

The Role of Learning on Insect and Spider Sexual Behaviors, Sexual Trait Evolution, and Speciation

“…Similar processes were recently reported in rove beetles and fruit flies (Schlechter-Helas et al, 2012;Tan et al, 2013). Such "habituation" to female odor also occurs in male moths, which reduce their level of response to female sex pheromones shortly after exposure to components of the blend (e.g., Robledo et al, 2018;Suckling et al, 2018). On the contrary, increased behavioral sensitivity to sex pheromones, termed "sensitization, " was also described in Spodoptera littoralis moths whereby sexually mature adult males increase their responsiveness and attraction to the odor source 24 h after exposure (Anderson et al, 2003(Anderson et al, , 2007Silvegren et al, 2005).…”

Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Females Can Detect the Sex Pheromone Emitted by Conspecific Females

“…In each bioassay, a moth was released 20 s after the stimulus was positioned in the tunnel, and its behavior was observed for 180 s. After each bioassay, the wind tunnel was cleaned with a non-stimulus airflow for 300 s. The percentage of moths that flew and landed on the emission source was recorded, and the response between them was compared (Robledo et al 2018).…”