Tobacco Budworm, Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Capinera, John L.

doi:10.32473/edis-in376-2012

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…For our experiments, we selected six common pest herbivores that are known to cause severe economic losses. We chose four generalists: beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) (Capinera 1999a;Greenberg et al 2001), fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (CABI ; Capinera 1999c), cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa zea) (CABI ; Martin et al 1976), and tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens) (Capinera 2001;Harding 1976;Martin et al 1976). We selected the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), a generalist that has a strong host preference for the mustard family (Brassicaceae) (Capinera 1999b;Hoo et al 1984;Martin et al 1976).…”

Section: Experimental Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute toxicity of the plant volatile indole depends on herbivore specialization

Patel

Frost

2020

J Pest Sci

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Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) provide direct benefits to plants as antimicrobials and herbivore repellents, but their potential as direct toxins to herbivores is unclear. Here we assayed the larvicidal activity of six common HIPVs from three different biochemical pathways and tested the hypothesis that the larvicidal activity of HIPVs is related to the host specialization of the insect pest. We first assessed β-caryophyllene, linalool, z-3hexenyl acetate, z-3-hexenol, e-2-hexenol, and indole against the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), and found that indole was 7-fold more toxic compared to the other volatiles when incorporated into diet. Then, we tested the larvicidal activity of indole against six common, destructive pest caterpillars with varying host ranges. Consistent with our hypothesis, indole toxicity varied with caterpillar host range: indole toxicity was seven-fold higher in more specialized insect species relative to generalist insect species. That said, the LC 50 of indole was comparable to other reported anti-herbivore agents even against the generalist caterpillars. Yet, indole in headspace had neither larvicidal nor ovicidal activity on any caterpillar species tested.These results support a key ecological precept regarding tradeoffs between host specialization and chemical detoxification, and also indicate that indole functions as a direct defense against herbivores that could be potentially useful in integrated pest management strategies. KeywordsCaterpillars, Green leaf volatiles (GLVs), Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), Host Range, Indole, Pest, Toxicity, Specialist vs Generalist herbivore Key message• We measured the direct toxicity of six common HIPVs against the beet armyworm.• Indole was the most toxic HIPV against the beet armyworm.• We determined the toxicity of indole against six different pest caterpillar species.• Toxicity of indole was associated with the host preference of the insect species.• Indole exposure in headspace had no effect on egg hatching or caterpillar survival.• Indole has the potential to be developed as an insecticide against crop pests.

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Section: Experimental Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute toxicity of the plant volatile indole depends on herbivore specialization

Patel

Frost

2020

J Pest Sci

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“…Many examples can be found for the first group of insects, such as the medfly, Ceratitis capitata, whose larvae, upon arrival at ground level, transform immediately to pupal stage and remain in diapause until the climate is suitable for adult emergence [5]. Further examples are the potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata [6] or the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Novel Insect Overwintering Strategy: The Case of Mealybugs

Vercher

González

Sánchez-Domingo

et al. 2023

Insects

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Insects have limited ability to regulate their body temperature and have thus required a range of strategies to withstand thermally stressful environments. Under unfavorable winter conditions, insects often take refuge under the soil surface to survive. Here, the mealybug insect family was selected for the study. Field experiments were performed in fruit orchards in eastern Spain. We used specifically designed floor sampling methods combined with fruit tree canopy pheromone traps. We found that in temperate climates, the large majority of the mealybugs move from the tree canopy to the roots during the winter, where they turn into belowground root-feeding herbivores to survive and continue underground the reproductive process. Within the rhizosphere, mealybugs complete at least one generation before emerging on the soil surface. The preferred area to overwinter is within 1 m in diameter around the fruit tree trunk, where more than 12,000 mealybug flying males per square meter can emerge every spring. This overwintering pattern has not previously been reported for any other group of insects showing cold avoidance behavior. These findings have implications at the winter ecology level but also at the agronomical level since treatments to control mealybug pests are, until now, only based on the fruit trees’ canopy.

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