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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Kearneysville, West Virginia » Appalachian Fruit Research Laboratory » Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #137393
Title: INFLUENCE OF BAROMETRIC PRESSURE ON ODOR DISCRIMINATION AND OVIPOSITION BY ADULT PLUM CURCULIOS (COLEOPTERA:CURCULIONIDAE)

Author
item Leskey, Tracy
item PROKOPY, RONALD J. - DEPT OF ENT. UMASS

Submitted to: European Journal of Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/3/2003
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We conducted laboratory experiments to elucidate the influence of barometric pressure on olfactory discrimination and oviposition and feeding behavior of adult female plum curculios, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst). Olfactory discrimination of hexane-extracted McIntosh fruit volatiles was high when barometric pressure was high; Response Index values used as a measure of olfactory discrimination were significantly and positively correlated with barometric pressure. Females oviposited more eggs during periods of low barometric pressure; nearly significant negative correlations were observed between female oviposition activity and barometric pressure. Observed feeding activity of females was independent of barometric pressure.