Glinwood, Robert and Ahmed, Elham and Qvarfordt, Erika and Ninkovic, Velemir
(2011).
Olfactory learning of plant genotypes by a polyphagous insect
predator.
Oecologia. 166
:3
, 637-647
[Journal article]
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PDF
782kB |
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-010-1892- x
Abstract
Olfactory learning may allow insects to forage
optimally by more efficiently finding and using favourable
food sources. Although olfactory learning has been shown
in bees, insect herbivores and parasitoids, there are fewer
examples from polyphagous predators. In this study,
olfactory learning by a predatory coccinellid beetle is
reported for the first time. In laboratory trials, adults of the
aphidophagous ladybird Coccinella septempunctata did not
prefer the odour of one aphid-infested barley cultivar over
another. However, after feeding on aphids for 24 h on a
cultivar, they preferred the odour of that particular cultivar.
The mechanism appeared to be associative learning rather
than sensitisation. Although inexperienced ladybirds preferred
the odour of an aphid-infested barley cultivar over
uninfested plants of the same cultivar, after feeding experience
on a different cultivar this preference disappeared.
This may indicate the acquisition and replacement of
olfactory templates. The odour blends of the different
aphid-infested barley cultivars varied qualitatively and
quantitatively, providing a potential basis for olfactory
discrimination by the ladybird. The results show that
predatory coccinellids can learn to associate the odour of
aphid-infested plants with the presence of prey, and that this
olfactory learning ability is sensitive enough to discriminate
variability between different genotypes of the same plant.
Authors/Creators: | Glinwood, Robert and Ahmed, Elham and Qvarfordt, Erika and Ninkovic, Velemir |
---|---|
Title: | Olfactory learning of plant genotypes by a polyphagous insect predator |
Series Name/Journal: | Oecologia |
Year of publishing : | 2011 |
Volume: | 166 |
Number: | 3 |
Page range: | 637-647 |
Publisher: | Springer |
ISSN: | 1432-1939 |
Language: | English |
Publication Type: | Journal article |
Refereed: | Yes |
Article category: | Scientific peer reviewed |
Version: | Published version |
Full Text Status: | Public |
Agris subject categories.: | H Protection of plants and stored products > H10 Pests of plants |
Subjects: | (A) Swedish standard research categories 2011 > 1 Natural sciences > 106 Biological Sciences (Medical to be 3 and Agricultural to be 4) > Zoology (A) Swedish standard research categories 2011 > 1 Natural sciences > 106 Biological Sciences (Medical to be 3 and Agricultural to be 4) > Ecology |
Keywords: | ladybird, semiochemical, learning |
URN:NBN: | urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-e-815 |
Permanent URL: | http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-e-815 |
ID Code: | 9341 |
Department: | (NL, NJ) > Dept. of Ecology (S) > Dept. of Ecology |
External funders: | MISTRA |
Deposited By: | Dr Robert Glinwood |
Deposited On: | 19 Dec 2012 14:39 |
Metadata Last Modified: | 02 Dec 2014 10:54 |
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