Olfactory response of the ladybird beetle Stethorus gilvifrons to herbivore-induced plant volatiles from Tetranychus urticae infested bean, tomato and melon plants

Abstract: The spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae) causes severe economic losses to vegetables and deciduous fruit orchards in Turkey. The ladybird beetles belonging to the genus Stethorus, including Stethorus gilvifrons, are predators of tetranychid mites. The present study assessed whether there is a role for herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) and/or odors emitted directly from T. urticae in the aggregative response of ladybird beetles. The olfactory responses of the predator to volatiles from T. urticae infested bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. ‘Magnum’ ), tomatoe (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. ‘Rio Grande’) and melon (Cucumis melo cv. ‘Kırkağaç 637’) were investigated using a Y-tube olfactometer. Our results showed that HIPVs emitted from T. urticae infested plants significantly attracted S. gilvifrons adults to bean and tomato