Abstract
The responses ofPterostichus melanarius Illiger,Harpalus rufipes DeGeer, andNebria brevicollis Fabricius (Coleoptera: Carabidae) to olfactory cues of prey and habitat were studied in a four-arm continuous-airflow olfactometer. The process was semiautomated using time-lapse image analysis by microcomputer. The primary constituent of the aphid alarm pheromone, (E)-β-farnesene (EBF), was synthesized and tested for a kairomonal role in prey detection by carabids. In addition, individual beetles were exposed to odors from live aphids, live collembolans, and a crude extract of wheat. All three beetle species showed evidence of olfaction.P. melanarius responded to all the odors except collembolans,H. rufipes responded to EBF and wheat, andN. brevicollis to collembolans. The use of a defence allomone as a prey-finding kairomone by certain carabid species has implications for pest management. Manipulation of predator chemical ecology by the inclusion of behavior-modifying compounds in a crop spray mix with reduced amounts of insecticide may allow for efficient aphid control with less environmental contamination.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Araya, J. E., and Fereres, A. (1991). Rain may dislodge cereal aphids, but are they affected? Effects of short feeding on survival. In Peters, D. C., Webster, J. A., and Chlouber, C. S. (eds.),Aphid-Plant Interactions: Populations to Molecules, USDA Agricultural Research Service/Oklahoma State University MP-132, p. 253.
Bennett, J., Stevenson, D. E., Mathies, Z., Floyd, W. W., Allen, C. T., and Patterson, R. (1989). Efficacy of Concep aphid alarm pheromone for black and yellow aphid control in pecans.Results of the 12989 Agricultural Demonstrations, Pecan County, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, pp. 139–146.
Borden, J. H. (1977). Behavioural responses of Coleoptera to pheromones, allomones and kairomones. In Shorey, H. H., and McKelvey, J. (eds.),Chemical Control of Insect Behaviour, Wiley, New York, pp. 169–198.
Bowers, W. S., Nault, L. R., Webb, R. E., and Dutky, S. R. (1972). Aphid alarm pheromone: Isolation, identification, synthesis.Science 177: 1121–1122.
Bryan, K. M., and Wratten, S. D. (1984). The responses of polyphagous predators to prey spatial heterogeneity: Aggregation by carabid and staphylinid beetles to their cereal aphid prey.Ecol. Entomol. 9: 251–259.
Chiverton, P. A. (1982). The effects of polyphagous predators on the establishment phase of bird-cherry oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) infestations in spring barley.Vaxtskyddsrapporter Jordbruk 20: 177–181.
Chiverton, P. A. (1986). Predator density manipulation and its effects on populations ofRhopalosiphum padi (Hom.: Aphididae) is spring barley.Ann. Appl. Biol. 109: 49–60.
Cornic, J. F. (1973). Etude du regime alimentaire de trois especes de carabiques et de ses variations en verger de pomiers.Ann. Soc. Entomol. France 9: 69–87.
Davies, M. J. (1953). The contents of the crops of some British carabid beetles.Entomol. Month. Mag. 89: 18–23.
Dawson, G. W., Griffiths, D. C., Pickett, J. A., Smith, M. C., and Woodcock, C. M. (1982). Improved preparation of (E)-β-farnesene and its activity with economically important aphids.J. Chem. Ecol. 8(8): 1111–1117.
DeClercq, R., and Pietraszko, R. (1983). Epigeal arthropods in relation to cereal aphids. In Cavalloro, R. (ed.),Aphid Antagonists, A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 82–92.
Dethier, V. G. (1947).Chemical Insect Attractants and Repellants, Blakiston, Philadelphia.
Dethier, V. G. (1963).Physiology of Insect Senses, Chapman & Hall, London.
Dethier, V. G., Hackley, B. E., and Wagner-Jauregg, T. (1952). Attraction of flies by isovaler-aldehyde.Science 115: 141–142.
Edwards, C. A., and George, K. S. (1981). Carabid beetles as predators of cereal aphids.Proceedings, 1981 Brighton Crop Protection Conference—Pests and Diseases, Lavenham Press, Suffolk, pp. 191–199.
Edwards, L. J., Siddal, J. B., Dunham, L. L., Uden, P., and Kislow, C. J. (1973). Trans-β-farnesene, alarm pheromone of the green peach aphid,Myzus persicae (Sulzer).Nature 241: 126–127.
Edwards, C. A., Sunderland, K. D., and George, K. S. (1979). Studies on polyphagous predators of cereal aphids.J. Appl. Ecol. 16: 811–823.
Ester, A., Gut, J., van Oosten, A. M., and Pijnenburg, H. C. H. (1993). Controlling aphids in iceberg lettuce by alarm pheromone in combination with an insecticide.J. Appl. Entomol. 115: 432–440.
Evans, W. G. (1982).Oscillatoria sp. (Cyanophyta) mat metabolites implicated in habitat selection inBembidion obtusidens (Coleopt.: Carabidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 8: 671–678.
Evans, W. G. (1983). Habitat selection in the Carabidae.Coleop. Bull. 37: 164–167.
Evans, W. G. (1984). Odour-mediated responses ofBembidion obtusidens (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in a wind tunnel.Can. J. Entomol. 116: 1653–1658.
Evans, W. G. (1988). Chemically mediated habitat recognition in shore insects (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Hemiptera: Saldidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 14(5): 1441–1454.
Goto, H. E. (1961). Simple techniques for the rearing of Collembola and a note on the use of a fungistatic substance in the cultures.Entomol. Month. Mag. 96: 138–140.
Gravesen, E., and Toft, S. (1987). Grass fields as reservoirs for polyphagous predators (Arthropoda) of aphids (Homoptera, Aphididae).J. Appl. Entomol. 104: 461–473.
Greenslade, P. J. M. (1963). Further notes on aggregation in Carabidae with special reference toNebria brevicollis (F.)Entomol. Month. Mag. 99: 109–114.
Griffiths, E., Wratten, S. D., and Vickerman, G. P. (1985). Foraging by the carabidAgonum dorsale in the fieldEcol.Entomol. 10: 181–189.
Hengeveld, R. (1980). Polyphagy, oligophagy and food specialisation in ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae).Netherlands J. Zool. 30(4): 564–584.
Kennedy, P. (1988). The use of polythene barriers to study the long-term effects of pesticides on ground beetles (Carabidae: Coleoptera) in small-scale field experiments. In Greaves, M. P., Smith, B. D., and Greig-Smith, P. W. (eds.),Field Methods for the Study of Environmental Effects of Pesticides, BCPC Monograph No. 40, pp. 335–340.
Kielty, J. P. (1992).The effects of field margins on the distribution and biocontrol potential of polyphagous predatory arthropods in arable crops. Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Hertfordshire.
Loughridge, A. H., and Luff, M. L. (1983). Aphid predation byHarpalus rufipes (DeGeer) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in the laboratory and field.J. Appl. Ecol. 20: 451–452.
Luff, M. L. (1986). Aggregation of some Carabidae in pitfall traps. In den Boer, P. J. (ed.),Carabid Beetles, Gustav Fisher, Stuttgart, pp. 385–397.
Mustaparta, H. (1984). Olfaction. In Bell, W. J., and Cardé R. T. (eds.),Chemical Ecology of Insects, Chapman & Hall, London, pp. 39–70.
Nakamuta, K. (1991). Aphid alarm pheromone component, (E)-β-farnesene, and local search by a predatory ladybeetle,Coccinella septempunctata bruckii Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).Appl. Entomol. Zool. 26: 1–7.
Nault, L. R., Edwards, L. J., and Styer, W. E. (1973). Aphid alarm pheromones: Secretion and reception.Environ. Entomol. 2: 101–105.
Nault, L. R., and Montgomery, M. E. (1979). Aphid alarm pheromones.Misc. Publ. Entomol. Soc. Am. 11(3): 23–31.
Penney, M. M. (1966). Studies on certain aspects of the ecology ofNebria brevicollis (F.) (Col. Carabidae).J. Anim. Ecol. 35: 505–512.
Pettersson, J. (1970). An aphid sex attractant. I. Biological studies.Entomol. Scand. 1: 63–73.
Pettersson, J., Quiroz, A., Stephansson, D., and Niemeyer, H. M. (1995). Odor communication ofRhopalosiphum padi on grasses.Entomol. Exp. Appl. 76: 325–328.
Pickett, J. A., and Griffiths, D. C. (1980). Composition of aphid alarm pheromones.Journal of Chemical Ecology 6(2), 349–360.
Pickett, J. A., Wadhams, L. J., Woodcock, C. M., and Hardie, J. (1992). The chemical ecology of aphids.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37: 67–90.
Pollet, M., and Desender, K. (1989). Prey uptake in sub-dominant, small to medium-sized carabid beetles from a pasture ecosystem.Med. Fac. Landbouww. Rijksuniv. Gent 54(3a): 809–822.
Potts, G. R., and Vickerman, G. P. (1974). Studies on the cereal ecosystem.Advances in Ecological Research 8: 107–197.
Sopp, P. I., Sunderland, K. D., and Coombes, D. S. (1987). Observations on the number of cereal aphids on the soil in relation to aphid density in winter wheat.Ann. Appl. Biol. 111: 53–57.
Sunderland, K. D., Fraser, A. M., and Dixon, A. F. G. (1986). Field and laboratory studies on money spiders (Linyphiidae) as predators of cereal aphids.J. Appl. Ecol. 23: 433–447.
Sunderland, K. D., and Vickerman, G. P. (1980). Aphid feeding by some polyphagous predators in relation to aphid density in cereal fields.J. Appl. Ecol. 17: 389–396.
Teerling, C. R., Gillespie, D. R., and Borden, J. H. (1993). Utilization of western flower thrips alarm pheromone as a prey-finding kairomone by predators.Can. Entomol. 125(3): 431–437.
Thiele, H.-U. (1977).Carabid Beetles in Their Environments, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Vet, L. E. M., van Lenteren, J. C., Heymans, M., and Meelis, E. (1983). An airflow olfactometer for measuring olfactory responses of hymenopterous parasitoids and other small insects.Physiol. Entomol. 8: 97–106.
Wheater, C. P. (1989). Prey detection by some predatory Coleoptera.J. Zool. Soc. London 218: 171–185.
Wientjens, W. H. J. M., Lakwijk, A. C., and van der Marel, T. (1973). Alarm pheromone of grain aphids.Experientia 29: 658–660.
Winder, L. (1990). Predation of the cereal aphidSitobion avenae by polyphagous predators on the ground.Ecol. Entomol. 15: 105–110.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kielty, J.P., Allen-Williams, L.J., Underwood, N. et al. Behavioral responses of three species of ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) to olfactory cues associated with prey and habitat. J Insect Behav 9, 237–250 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02213868
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02213868