Abstract
Examples of phytochemically-based learning of host preference in herbivorous insects are reviewed in the context of traditionally important issues: the number and kinds of chemicals involved; which sensory modalities are affected; whether peripheral or central nervous processing is altered; and whether learning is associative or not. A fifth issue addressed here- whether experience enhances a feeding or ovipositing insect's propensity to accept familiar chemical stimuli or to reject novel chemical stimuli-has been ignored in previous studies. Following the review, evidence is presented indicating that female apple maggot flies (Ragoletis pomonella) learn to reject both novel physical and novel chemical stimuli.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1125-1143 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Journal of Chemical Ecology |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1986 |
Keywords
- Diptera
- Learning
- Rhagoletis pomonella
- Tephritidae
- herbivorous insects
- host preference
- phytochemistry
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Biochemistry