Insect odour perception: recognition of odour components by flower foraging moths

Author:

Cunningham John Paul1,Moore Chris J2,Zalucki Myron P3,Cribb Bronwen W3

Affiliation:

1. School of Biological and Earth Sciences, John Moores UniversityJames Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK

2. Department of Primary IndustriesYeerongpilly, Brisbane, Qld 4105, Australia

3. Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of QueenslandBrisbane, Qld 4072, Australia

Abstract

Odours emitted by flowers are complex blends of volatile compounds. These odours are learnt by flower-visiting insect species, improving their recognition of rewarding flowers and thus foraging efficiency. We investigated the flexibility of floral odour learning by testing whether adult moths recognize single compounds common to flowers on which they forage. Dual choice preference tests onHelicoverpa armigeramoths allowed free flying moths to forage on one of three flower species;Argyranthemum frutescens(federation daisy),Cajanus cajan(pigeonpea) orNicotiana tabacum(tobacco). Results showed that, (i) a benzenoid (phenylacetaldehyde) and a monoterpene (linalool) were subsequently recognized after visits to flowers that emitted these volatile constituents, (ii) in a preference test, other monoterpenes in the flowers' odour did not affect the moths' ability to recognize the monoterpene linalool and (iii) relative preferences for two volatiles changed after foraging experience on a single flower species that emitted both volatiles. The importance of using free flying insects and real flowers to understand the mechanisms involved in floral odour learning in nature are discussed in the context of our findings.

Publisher

The Royal Society

Subject

General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,General Environmental Science,General Immunology and Microbiology,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Medicine

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