Semiochemicals used in chemical communication by phytophagous gall midges
Author of the article:ZHANG Fan;CHEN Jun;LU Peng-Fei;LIU Sai;GUO Kun;XU Rong;QIAO Hai-Li;XU Chang-Qing
Author's Workplace:Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Key Words:phytophagous gall midge; chemical communications; sex pheromone; host plant volatiles; pest control
Abstract:
Phytophagous gall midges
(Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) are important global pests of certain crops and trees.
The galls formed by these midges are extremely common in nature, and are
comprised of a special host plant tissue induced by these insects. Adult gall
midges are very small and their life span is very short. In general, females
emerge, mate once, and then search for host plants on which to oviposit.
Semiochemicals play a crucial role in host plant selection and mate location
and manipulating their behavior with semiochemicals has become a practical
method of gall midge management. This paper reviews progress in research on
gall midge attractants, including female sex pheromones, chemicals involved in
location of host plants, and the application of semiochemicals in the management
of pest species of cecidomyiid midges.