Chemical trail marking and following by caterpillars ofMalacosoma neustria (original) (raw)
Abstract
Chemical trail marking and following by gregarious caterpillars,Malacosoma neustria L. (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), was studied in the laboratory. As in other species of_Malacosoma_, larvae deposit a trail pheromone from a sternal secretory site when searching the host for food. Larvae in the vanguard of foraging columns establish chemical trails as they explore new territory. Marking behavior diminishes as successive unfed foragers utilize the trail. These exploratory trails are subsequently overmarked by fed larvae returning to the tent. Other foragers follow the trails of fed larvae in preference to trails of unfed larvae. Thus, like the eastern tent caterpillar,M. americanum, successful foragers of_M. neustria_ recruit colony-mates to feeding sites. The chemical activity of both recruitment and exploratory trails degrades slowly, suggesting that the trail pheromone of_M. neustria_ is a nonvolatile substance. Caterpillars of_M. neustria_ readily follow the nonvolatile trail pheromone which has been identified from_M. americanum_, 5β-cholestane-3,24-dione.
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- Steven C. Peterson
Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, baltimore County, 21228, Catonsville, Maryland
Authors and Affiliations
- Department of Entomology, Agricultural University at Wageningen, 6700, EH Wageningen, The Netherlands
Steven C. Peterson
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- Steven C. Peterson
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Peterson, S.C. Chemical trail marking and following by caterpillars of_Malacosoma neustria_.J Chem Ecol 14, 815–824 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01018775
- Received: 23 February 1987
- Accepted: 11 May 1987
- Issue Date: March 1988
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01018775