Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to the Floral Volatiles of the Horticultural Plant (Magnoliales: Magnoliaceae).

Volatile cues are important in the host detection and discrimination of phytophagous insects, allowing them to find suitable hosts. Here, the electroantennography (EAG) and behavioral responses of female to the floral volatiles of different plants, L. (Magnoliales: Magnoliaceae), Bolus (Asterales: Asteraceae), Baker (Liliales: Liliaceae), and Thunb. (Rosales: Rosaceae), were studied. Y-tube olfactometer bioassays revealed that was the preferred host for . Fifty-two compounds were identified from the volatile profile of by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, of which -elemen (15.39%), bicyclogermacren (11.99%), and ()--bisabolene (6.05%) showed the highest relative contents. The EAG bioassays revealed that the antennae of could perceive these tested volatile compounds at different concentrations. In six-arm olfactometer bioassays, showed significant positive responses to -elemen and ()--bisabolene at various concentrations, and 10 μg/μL was found to be the most attractive concentration for -elemen, and 50 and 100 μg/μL for ()--bisabolene. Based on the four-arm olfactometer bioassays, -elemen was more attractive than ()--bisabolene to when compared at their optimal concentrations. Therefore, could perceive and distinguish the floral volatiles from the preferred host plant (). These findings assist in better understanding the mechanism of host preferences of from a chemoecological perspective. In particular, -elemen showed the greatest potential to be developed as a novel attractant for the monitoring and control of .