The attractiveness of volatile compounds to foraging Kallima inachus (Boisduval)
Author of the article:TANG Yu-Chong1, 2** CHEN Xiao-Ming2*** ZHOU Cheng-Li2
Author's Workplace：1. Guang’ an Vocational & Technical College, Guangan 638000, China; 2. The Research Institute of Resource Insects, CAF, Kunming 650224, China
Key Words：Kallima inachus, volatile compounds, foraging responses, attraction
Abstract： [Objectives] To determine the key compounds that attract foraging Kallima inachus (Boisduval) to fruits. [Methods] The dynamic headspace adsorption method was used to collect volatile compounds from six different rotting fruits (pear, apple, banana, watermelon, orange, and persimmon) which were then analyzed by auto thermal-desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The five volatile compounds found in the six fruits, as well as two others found in other fermented foods by previous studies, were selected to test the feeding responses of naive adults to each compound relative to ethanol and deionized water. [Results] All the test compounds were attractive to adults at a dose of 0.5%. There was no significant difference in the attractiveness of ethyl acetate, butanone, α-pinene and ethanol (P>0.05) but all of these compounds were significantly more attractive than deionized water (P<0.05). 3-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanoacetate and acetic acid were not significantly more attractive than deionized water (P>0.05) and were much less attractive than ethanol (P<0.05). Ethanol was the most attractive the substance tested except ethyl acetate. [Conclusion] The results show that ethanol plays a crucial role in the foraging of adult K. inachus but also that foraging adults are attracted by a variety of chemical signals. These results provide a basis for developing methods to control K. inachus.