Leaffooted Bugs, <i>Leptoglossus phyllopus</i> (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Are Attracted to Volatile Emissions from Herbivore-Damaged Cotton Bolls
The leaffooted bug, <i>Leptoglossus phyllopus</i> (L.) (Hemiptera: Coreidae), probes and feeds on tissues of many plant species, including developing cotton bolls, causing seed damage and abscission. Insecticides are the primary tool for managing leaffooted bugs, but concerns about resis...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Malek A. Alwedyan Anjel M. Helms Michael J. Brewer |
| author_facet | Malek A. Alwedyan Anjel M. Helms Michael J. Brewer |
| author_sort | Malek A. Alwedyan |
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| description | The leaffooted bug, <i>Leptoglossus phyllopus</i> (L.) (Hemiptera: Coreidae), probes and feeds on tissues of many plant species, including developing cotton bolls, causing seed damage and abscission. Insecticides are the primary tool for managing leaffooted bugs, but concerns about resistance and environmental harm highlight the need for alternative management strategies. One promising approach is using semiochemicals, such as plant- and insect-produced volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to trap or repel pests. Insect herbivores often use plant-produced VOCs to select suitable host plants for feeding and oviposition. Field observations of abundant adult leaffooted bugs on cotton bolls suggest that bugs aggregate at feeding sites. The goal of this study was to characterize VOCs from developing cotton bolls with and without leaffooted bug herbivory and evaluate how these VOCs affect adult bug foraging behavior. A portable dynamic headspace sampling method was used to collect VOCs from developing cotton bolls in the field, and VOC samples were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Leaffooted bug herbivory induced volatile emissions from cotton bolls, with significant increases in the emissions of six compounds (benzaldehyde, α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, p-xylene, and (<i>E</i>)-β-caryophyllene). Dual-choice olfactometer assays revealed that adult leaffooted bugs were attracted to VOCs from damaged cotton bolls, as well as being attracted to synthetic benzaldehyde or α-pinene individually. In contrast, leaffooted bugs were repelled by the combination of synthetic benzaldehyde and α-pinene. These findings suggest that VOCs from cotton bolls are attractive to leaffooted bugs and could contribute to the development of attractive lures for integrated pest management. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-eabe0dd2fbeb46cd93c2b243a9c664652025-08-20T02:18:16ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-04-0116442510.3390/insects16040425Leaffooted Bugs, <i>Leptoglossus phyllopus</i> (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Are Attracted to Volatile Emissions from Herbivore-Damaged Cotton BollsMalek A. Alwedyan0Anjel M. Helms1Michael J. Brewer2Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Corpus Christi, TX 78406, USADepartment of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Corpus Christi, TX 78406, USAThe leaffooted bug, <i>Leptoglossus phyllopus</i> (L.) (Hemiptera: Coreidae), probes and feeds on tissues of many plant species, including developing cotton bolls, causing seed damage and abscission. Insecticides are the primary tool for managing leaffooted bugs, but concerns about resistance and environmental harm highlight the need for alternative management strategies. One promising approach is using semiochemicals, such as plant- and insect-produced volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to trap or repel pests. Insect herbivores often use plant-produced VOCs to select suitable host plants for feeding and oviposition. Field observations of abundant adult leaffooted bugs on cotton bolls suggest that bugs aggregate at feeding sites. The goal of this study was to characterize VOCs from developing cotton bolls with and without leaffooted bug herbivory and evaluate how these VOCs affect adult bug foraging behavior. A portable dynamic headspace sampling method was used to collect VOCs from developing cotton bolls in the field, and VOC samples were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Leaffooted bug herbivory induced volatile emissions from cotton bolls, with significant increases in the emissions of six compounds (benzaldehyde, α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, p-xylene, and (<i>E</i>)-β-caryophyllene). Dual-choice olfactometer assays revealed that adult leaffooted bugs were attracted to VOCs from damaged cotton bolls, as well as being attracted to synthetic benzaldehyde or α-pinene individually. In contrast, leaffooted bugs were repelled by the combination of synthetic benzaldehyde and α-pinene. These findings suggest that VOCs from cotton bolls are attractive to leaffooted bugs and could contribute to the development of attractive lures for integrated pest management.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/425behavioral responsesherbivore-induced plant volatileshost attractionsemiochemicalsvolatile organic compounds |
| spellingShingle | Malek A. Alwedyan Anjel M. Helms Michael J. Brewer Leaffooted Bugs, <i>Leptoglossus phyllopus</i> (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Are Attracted to Volatile Emissions from Herbivore-Damaged Cotton Bolls Insects behavioral responses herbivore-induced plant volatiles host attraction semiochemicals volatile organic compounds |
| title | Leaffooted Bugs, <i>Leptoglossus phyllopus</i> (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Are Attracted to Volatile Emissions from Herbivore-Damaged Cotton Bolls |
| title_full | Leaffooted Bugs, <i>Leptoglossus phyllopus</i> (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Are Attracted to Volatile Emissions from Herbivore-Damaged Cotton Bolls |
| title_fullStr | Leaffooted Bugs, <i>Leptoglossus phyllopus</i> (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Are Attracted to Volatile Emissions from Herbivore-Damaged Cotton Bolls |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leaffooted Bugs, <i>Leptoglossus phyllopus</i> (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Are Attracted to Volatile Emissions from Herbivore-Damaged Cotton Bolls |
| title_short | Leaffooted Bugs, <i>Leptoglossus phyllopus</i> (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Are Attracted to Volatile Emissions from Herbivore-Damaged Cotton Bolls |
| title_sort | leaffooted bugs i leptoglossus phyllopus i hemiptera coreidae are attracted to volatile emissions from herbivore damaged cotton bolls |
| topic | behavioral responses herbivore-induced plant volatiles host attraction semiochemicals volatile organic compounds |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/425 |
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