Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of Soybean Disease and Pest Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing China
2. Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function of Changbai Mountains Beihua University Jilin China
3. Jilin Provincial Academy of Forestry Science Changchun China
4. Institute of Biology University of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Switzerland
Abstract
AbstractBACKGROUNDHealthy cultures of arthropods are important for pest management programs (e.g. biocontrol). Little is known about how rearing conditions may affect pheromonal interactions. We investigated how rearing histories and densities affect pheromone emission/production in two stink bug species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), the predatory bug Arma custos, a biocontrol agent, and the bean bug Riptortus pedestris, a pest on legume crops.RESULTSNymphs from newly established laboratory colonies of both species produced higher amounts of the defense (dispersal) compound, 4‐oxo‐(E)‐hexenal (OHE), in the presence of conspecific nymphs. Also, when two or more A. custos males were placed together, the dorsal abdominal glands (DAGs) ceased to release aggregation pheromone, whereas the metathoracic glands (MTGs) increased the emission of defensive odors. These changes resulted from exposure to conspecific pheromone odors, as confirmed by exposing bugs to pheromone standards. Hence, pheromone emissions in these stink bugs are readily changed in response to the odors of conspecifics, which may become a problem after long‐term rearing. Indeed, an old laboratory colony of A. custos (~30 generations) exhibited less‐developed DAGs and reduced pheromone production. Instead, males released significantly more defensive odors from the enlarged MTGs. Furthermore, long‐term rearing conditions appeared to favor nymphs that were able to share space with conspecifics by releasing less OHE, which has not yet occurred in the new laboratory colonies.CONCLUSIONRearing density affects pheromone release in newly established laboratory colonies of stink bug species, whereas long‐term rearing results in new pheromonal compositions coinciding with adaptive changes in gland development. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Funder
Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Subject
Insect Science,Agronomy and Crop Science,General Medicine