Abstract :
[en] The Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis Pallas is considered as an invasive
species in most territories where it has been introduced. Because aphid honeydew acts as
an attractant for many aphid predators and parasitoids, the objectives of this work were
to collect and identify the volatile compounds released from the aphid excretory product
to evaluate how these semiochemicals could affect the H. axyridis foraging behavior.
Twelve volatile chemicals were identified from the Megoura viciae Buckton honeydew
including four alcohols, three ketones, three aldehydes, a pyrazine and a monoterpene.
The volatiles 3-methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-butanal were highlighted as the two most
abundant semiochemicals released from the M. viciae honeydew. Vicia faba L. plants
treated with crude honeydew attracted more than 80% of the tested individuals with 40%
of attracted beetles located on the plant. Four volatile compounds (3-hydroxy-2-butanone,
3-methyl-butanal, 3-methyl-1-butanol and limonene) were also highlighted to attract more
than 75% of the coccinellids toward the odor source and to locate about 35% of them on the
plants. Limonenewas the most efficient attractant since 89% of the H. axyridis responded to
this odor. The use of the identified semiochemicals aswell as the composition of an artificial
honeydew could certainly be helpful to control the dispersal of the Asian lady beetle
H. axyridis.
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