Oviposition by Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and Effects of Phylloplane Waxiness

• Published in: Journal of economic entomology Vol. 93; no. 4; pp. 1152 - 1159
• Main Authors: Justus, Kristine A., Dosdall, Lloyd M., Mitchell, Beverley K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lanham, MD Entomological Society of America 01-08-2000
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Brassica - physiology; Cruciferae; Ecology and Behavior; epicuticular wax; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; leaf surface; Moths - physiology; Oviposition - physiology; oviposition behavior; Plutella xylostella; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Scanning electron microscopy; Insecta; Leaf area; Oil plant(vegetal); Wax; Plutella xylostella; Pest; Cruciferae; Animal plant relation; Arthropoda; Dicotyledones; Morphology; Angiospermae; Lepidoptera; Brassica napus; Spermatophyta; Hyponomeutidae; Invertebrata; Egg laying behavior
• ISSN: 0022-0493; 1938-291X; 0022-0493
• DOI: 10.1603/0022-0493-93.4.1152

Three approaches were used to investigate effects of host plant epicuticular waxes on oviposition site selection by Plutella xylostella (L.). In the first approach, oviposition on canola (Brassica napus L.) that had epicuticular wax reduced by application of a carbamate herbicide (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) was compared with oviposition on untreated control plants. A second approach compared oviposition on sibling strains of B. napus with different wax blooms (glossy and waxy), and a third approach compared oviposition by P. xylostella on parafilm that had been applied to glossy and waxy B. napus strains for transfer of leaf components. Significantly more eggs were deposited on herbicide-treated plants (with reduced epicuticular wax) than on untreated controls. Similarly, more eggs were deposited on glossy than on waxy sibling strains of B. napus. In parafilm assays significantly more eggs were deposited on treated than on untreated parafilm. Several mechanisms could explain the differences in attractiveness of surfaces with varying wax content as oviposition sites for P. xylostella, including visual, chemical, and tactile differences between substrates. These mechanisms are discussed.