›› 2018, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (5): 565-573.doi: 10.16380/j.kcxb.2018.05.006

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Electroantennogram and behavioral responses of Ectropis grisescens (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) to essential oils from three non-host plants

ZHANG Fang-Mei1,2, QIAO Li1,2, PAN Peng-Liang1,2, WANG Guo-Jun1,2, YIN Jian1,2, CHEN Li-Jun1,2,*   

  1.  (1. Xinyang Agriculture and Forestry University, Xinyang, Henan 464000, China; 2. Academician Workstation of Pest Green Prevention and Control for Plants in Southern Henan, Xinyang, Henan 464000, China)
  • Online:2018-05-20 Published:2018-05-20

Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to screen the chemical attractants and repellents produced by non-host plants, which are potentially used for developing ‘push-pull’ strategy for controlling a common tea pest, Ectropis grisescens. 【Methods】 The behavioral and electroantennogram (EAG) responses of male and female adults of E. grisescens to essential oils from three non-host plants including Chenopodium ambrosioides, Mentha spicata and Artemisia annua were evaluated by using Y-tube olfactometer and EAG. 【Results】 Both sexes of E. grisescens adults showed EAG response to the essential oils from C. ambrosioides, M. spicata and A. annua in a dose-dependent manner, with the antennal response strengthening first and then decreasing with the concentration of essential oil, and reaching the maximum at the concentration of 1, 100 and 100 mg/L, respectively. Male adults showed slightly greater EAG response than females to the essential oils from C. ambrosioides and M. spicata, while their response to the essential oil from A. annua was opposite. The results of behavioral response tests showed that both sexes of E. grisescens adults displayed non-significant taxis to the essential oils from C. ambrosioides and A. annua and significantly negative taxis to the essential oil from M. spicata. 【Conclusion】 E. grisescens adults show significant EAG responses to the essential oils from the non-host plants C. ambrosioides, M. spicata and A. annua, and the essential oil from M. spicata has repellent activity against E. grisescens.

Key words: Ectropis grisescens, non-host essential oil, electroantennographic response, behavioral response, ‘push-pull&rsquo, strategy