Evidence of an extractable semiochemical produced by Rhopalosiphum padi acting on Psammotettix alienus

• Published in: Entomologia experimentalis et applicata Vol. 99; no. 1; pp. 107 - 111
• Main Authors: Alla, S., Moreau, J.P., Frérot, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.04.2001; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; aphid extract; Aphididae; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; chemical interaction; Cicadellidae; development time; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; honeydew; insect; leafhopper; nymphal mortality; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Psammotettix alienus; reproduction; Rhopalosiphum padi; Aphidoidea; Insecta; Mortality; Rhopalosiphum padi; Reproduction; Cicadomorpha; Phytophagous; Homoptera; Arthropoda; Aphididae; Development; Nymph; Invertebrata; Cicadellidae; Honeydew; Semiochemicals; Interspecific relation
• ISSN: 0013-8703; 1570-7458
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1570-7458.2001.00807.x

It has previously been shown that the aphid Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) adversely affects the biology of the leafhopper Psammotettix alienus (Dahlbom) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) (Alla et al., 2001). In this work, we demonstrate that this effect was due to chemical components produced by the aphid. The increase in the number of aphids in the presence of the leafhopper on wheat caused nymphal mortality, an extended duration of the development and a decrease in nymph production of the leafhopper. Extract of aphids in methanol‐water (50/50: v/v), applied on plants significantly increased the mortality in the leafhopper nymphs at both 3AE (3 Aphid Equivalent) and 7AE doses. At the same doses, both the honeydew and water extract of aphids did not have any effect. At the 20AE dose, aphid extracts in methanol‐water led to a longer development time and strong mortality in leafhopper nymphs. In female adults of the leafhopper, neither the aphid extracts in methanol‐water nor the honeydew showed a conclusive result, but generally, daily nymph production decreased with the increase in the extract doses. These results confirmed the depressive effect of R. padi on P. alienus and showed that this interaction was chemical. The active component(s) is partially extracted in a blend of methanol‐water (50/50: v/v). Further studies to identify this component(s) will be undertaken.