Powder from cedar heartwood affects oviposition behavior in Coleomegilla maculata: a ladybird native to the Americas

Authors: Riddick, Eric; Wu, Zhixin; Eller, Fred; Berhow, Mark

Submitted to: International Congress of Entomology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/22/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Introduction: Coleomegilla maculata is a predatory ladybird inhabiting ecosystems in North, Central, and South America. The aim of our research is to discover efficient, low-cost materials that boost oviposition in mass-reared C. maculata fed non-natural foods. We tested the hypothesis that eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) powder stimulates oviposition in C. maculata. Methods: Juniperus virginiana powder was obtained from heartwood sawdust, using proprietary methods including flash chromatography and LC-MS, and designated as fractions A, B, C, D, and E. We used one-month old, mated C. maculata females in bioassays, in replicated arenas, and monitored oviposition behavior of each female, twice per day for 12 consecutive days, when exposed to fraction powder. Results/Conclusion: We discovered that 80% or more egg clutches were oviposited in or on the sides of the small dish with chemical (1 mg of powdered fraction B, C, D, or E) positioned at the base of test arenas. In control arenas, without chemical, and even in test arenas with unfractionated extract or fraction A, females typically preferred ovipositing on the top wall. Females oviposited two-fold and three-fold more clutches in arenas with fractions D and E, respectively, than in control arenas. When a tissue substrate was added to test arenas, 75% of clutches were oviposited in the dish with fraction D, and 40% in the dish with fraction E. In summary, powder from several J. virginiana heartwood fractions stimulates oviposition and alters oviposition site selection in C. maculata. Research to identify compounds responsible for stimulating oviposition is ongoing.