Entomopathogenic nematodes increase predation success by inducing cadaver volatiles that attract healthy herbivores

Author:

Zhang Xi1ORCID,Machado Ricardo AR1ORCID,Doan Cong Van1ORCID,Arce Carla CM2ORCID,Hu Lingfei1ORCID,Robert Christelle AM1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

2. Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland

Abstract

Herbivore natural enemies protect plants by regulating herbivore populations. Whether they can alter the behavior of their prey to increase predation success is unknown. We investigate if and how infection by the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora changes the behavior of healthy larvae of the western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera), a major pest of maize. We found that nematode-infected rootworm cadavers are attractive to rootworm larvae, and that this behavior increases nematode reproductive success. Nematode-infected rootworms release distinct volatile bouquets, including the unusual volatile butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). BHT alone attracts rootworms, and increases nematode reproductive success. A screen of different nematode and herbivore species shows that attraction of healthy hosts to nematode-infected cadavers is widespread and likely involves species-specific volatile cues. This study reveals a new facet of the biology of herbivore natural enemies that boosts their predation success by increasing the probability of host encounters.

Publisher

eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd

Subject

General Immunology and Microbiology,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Medicine,General Neuroscience

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