Males of Dalbulus maidis attract females through volatile compounds with potential pheromone function: a tool for pest management.
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Insects use chemical compounds for communication, and sex pheromone is one of the most important signals used by males and females to find each other for mating purposes. The corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, is an insect vector that transmits pathogens causing diseases in maize crops, but it was unknown whether it uses sex pheromones in their communication. In this study, we tested whether D. maidis produces volatile compounds that attract the opposite sex. We collected volatiles from live insects and evaluated their influence on the behavioral responses of conspecifics. We found that males produce odors that attract females. Interestingly, males avoided odors emitted by stressed females, which may suggest the release of an alarm pheromone. These findings highlight for the first time the role of semiochemicals in intraspecific D. maidis communication, and open new perspectives for the development of monitoring and management tools targeting this important pest.
Na publicação: Charles Martins Oliveira; Maria Carolina Blassioli-Moraes.
Na publicação: Charles Martins Oliveira; Maria Carolina Blassioli-Moraes.
Palabras clave
Chemical communication, Corn leafhopper, Hemíptera, Semiochemicals, Olfactometry, Pest management, Cicadellidae