ARS | Publication request: STIMULATION OF CHRYSOMELA SCRIPTA F. ADULT FEEDING BY POPULUS LEAF SURFACE WAX

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: March 27, 1995
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Adult cottonwood leaf beetles, Chrysomela scripta show varied feeding and oviposition preference among tested Populus clones and among leaves of different physiological age. To understand the mechanism of the feeding and oviposition preference, four Populus clones, three hosts and one nonhost, were selected for leaf surface wax extractions from the most preferred leaves, LPI 3 and 4. Both sexually mature and sexually immature adults were bioassayed in multiple-choice and no-choice experiments for feeding and oviposition response to the wax. The results indicated that the wax from preferred hosts stimulated feeding activity in both mature and immature adults. This was in agreement with results for leaf disc bioassays. Leaf surface wax did not induce beetle oviposition. Several fractions with synergistic effect on beetle feeding have been obtained and will be identified. In addition to leaf surface chemicals, interactions with leaf secondary chemicals, such as phenolic glycosides, also should be considered.