Abstract: To better employ the alternative method for monitoring and controlling the green leaf bug, Lygus lucorum, with sex pheromone analogs and plant volatiles, electroantennogram (EAG) responses of adult L. lucorum to nine analogs of sex pheromone and twelve volatiles of plant were tested. The results indicated that EAG responses of L. lucorum to butyrates and green leaf volatiles (GLVs) were stronger than that to other compounds examined. Males were more sensitive to analogs of sex pheromone than females, while females more sensitive to plant volatiles. Among nine analogs of sex pheromone tested, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate elicited the strongest EAG response. Among the plant volatiles tested, (E)-2-hexenal was the most stimulating. The females were more sensitive to such GLVs as (E)-2-hexenol, (E)-2-hexenal and (Z)-3-hexenol than to terpenoids. Dose response curves of EAG of L. lucorum showed that compared with females, males showed significantly stronger EAG responses to (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate at all tested concentrations, while significantly weaker EAG responses to β-pinene. Sensitivity differences between both sexes to sex pheromone analogs and plant volatiles suggest ecological adaptation of this species: the males are more sensitive to sex pheromone analogs, which will be helpful for their orientation towards females; whereas the females are more sensitive to plant volatiles, which will be useful for their finding of hosts.

Key words: Lygus lucorum, sex pheromone, plant volatiles, electroantennogram (EAG), dose response