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Do European Corn Borer Females Detect and Avoid Laying Eggs in the Presence of 20-Hydroxyecdysone?

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Abstract

European corn borer larvae detect and avoid feeding in the presence of phytoecdysteroids (PEs) such as 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). Therefore, we hypothesized that females would have taste receptors similar to larvae and avoid laying eggs in the presence of 20E. We found female-specific taste sensilla on the tarsi that respond to 20E at concentrations as low as 10−6 M, a threshold comparable to that of larvae. However, in choice tests, females laid a similar number of eggs on 20E-treated and on nontreated artificial substrates (filter paper, glass, and nylon), although they spent significantly more time in behavioral sequences related to substrate assessment when 20E was present. In contrast, when given a choice between maize plants (eight leaves) sprayed with 20E or only the solvent, females laid 70% fewer eggs on the treated than on control plants. These observations suggest that other chemical cues of plant origin must be present at the same time as 20E for females to modify their oviposition behavior.

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Acknowledgments

We thank René Lafont (University Paris VI) for his gift of 20E used in this study and numerous discussions. We thank Alan Cork for reviewing the manuscript as well as two anonymous referees and the editor for their useful suggestions. This work was supported by an INCO-DEV program SUSVEG-ASIA.

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  1. UMR 1272 Physiologie de l’Insecte: Signalisation et Communication, INRA—UPMC—AgroParisTech, Bât.1—Route de Saint-Cyr, 78026, Versailles cedex, France

    Delphine Calas, Andrée Berthier & Frédéric Marion-Poll

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  1. Delphine Calas
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  2. Andrée Berthier
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  3. Frédéric Marion-Poll
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Correspondence to Frédéric Marion-Poll.

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Calas, D., Berthier, A. & Marion-Poll, F. Do European Corn Borer Females Detect and Avoid Laying Eggs in the Presence of 20-Hydroxyecdysone?. J Chem Ecol 33, 1393–1404 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-007-9302-5

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