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1 August 2020 Beetle Orientation Responses of Gastrophysa viridula and Gastrophysa polygoni (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to a Blend of Synthetic Volatile Organic Compounds
Dariusz Piesik, Jan Bocianowski, Sebastian Sendel, Krzysztof Krawczyk, Karol Kotwica
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Abstract

The invasive weed Rumex confertus Willd. (mossy sorrel) is eaten and severely defoliated by oligophagous Gastrophysa viridula Deg. (dock leaf beetle) and Gastrophysa polygoni L. (knotweed leaf beetle). The most popular methods of plant protection involve the application of chemicals, but such methods often require repeated chemical treatments. Aromatic plants may constitute an eco-friendly alternative strategy owing to their repellent properties. To date, single compounds have been tested rather than blends; however, there is a need to investigate mixtures of compounds, because insects are subjected to blends of odors derived from their surrounding environments. The aim of the current study was to investigate behavioral responses of the dock leaf beetle and knotweed leaf beetle to a blend of synthetic plant volatile organic compounds. Plants were treated with standard repellents (a blend of volatile organic compounds) at two different concentrations (10 ng min–1 and 1,000 ng min–1). For further experiments, four rates (1 ng min–1, 10 ng min–1, 100 ng min–1, and 1,000 ng min–1 in 50 µl) were evaluated using a 4-way olfactometer. Leaf beetles of both sexes were repelled by the highest three concentrations tested. Female dock leaf beetles were also repelled by the lowest concentration tested, where individual components could have occasionally attracted insects. These results indicate a difference in responses to individual compounds and mixtures of compounds.

© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Dariusz Piesik, Jan Bocianowski, Sebastian Sendel, Krzysztof Krawczyk, and Karol Kotwica "Beetle Orientation Responses of Gastrophysa viridula and Gastrophysa polygoni (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) to a Blend of Synthetic Volatile Organic Compounds," Environmental Entomology 49(5), 1071-1076, (1 August 2020). https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvaa082
Received: 25 May 2020; Accepted: 26 June 2020; Published: 1 August 2020
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KEYWORDS
behavior
Gastrophysa sp.
odors
orientation response
volatile organic compounds
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