| Dötterl, S; Jürgens, A; Weißbecker, B; Schütz, S: Interactions between Caryophyllaceae species and their pollinating fruit predators, International Congress of Entomology (ICE) (2004) | |
| Abstract: The larvae of all noctuid Hadena species and of Sideridis rivularis feed exclusively on Caryophyllaceae species, mostly on the fruits. As shown for Hadena bicruris and its important dioecious host plant Silene latifolia, the moths reproduce within female flowers they pollinate. The moths are very specific by the choice of plants for egg deposition. Also, comparisons of pollen spectra, prepared from different museum specimens and species indicated in some cases a narrow nectar-plant spectrum of the moths. In case of H. bicruris and S. latifolia it was demonstrated that the nocturnal flower scent attracts the moths, however, nothing was known about the role of single scent compounds. We identified about 60 different floral scent volatiles, and revealed a high variability in the scent of S. latifolia. Sixteen electrophysiologically active compounds were identified using the GC-EAD method. Wind tunnel bioassays indicated that some of the EAD active compounds are very attractive for H. bicruris. Differences in the chemical composition of total-flower volatiles and pollen volatiles could be important for H. bicruris to distinguish between male and female flowers, because eggs are deposited only in female flowers. |
