Using Cucumis sativus, Acalymma vittatum, Celatoria setosa, and generalist pollinators as a case study for plant–insect interactions

Abstract

AbstractShowcasing how semiochemicals are both multifunctional and can influence a community of organisms is a constant frontier shared by chemical ecologists and applied entomologists alike. As researchers in these fields continue to share broad and overlapping interests, converging on one system could allow for a better understanding of community interactions and the chemical substances that mediate them. Cucurbit systems are strategically positioned to study these types of interactions because they combine the elements of plant–herbivore, plant–predator, and plant pollinator into one model and are systems where researchers can pursue both basic and applied questions. In this review, we propose Cucumis sativus [cucumber], Acalymma vittatum [striped cucumber beetle], Celatoria setosa [a natural enemy], and generalist pollinators as a system for continued investigation into semiochemicals, their multifunctional roles, and their influence on both target and nontarget organisms. We believe this system is ripe for further exploration at the frontiers in chemical ecology and applied entomology.