Lima bean leaves exposed to herbivore-induced conspecific plant volatiles attract herbivores in addition to carnivores

Abstract

We tested the response of the herbivorous mite Tetranychus urticae to uninfested lima bean leaves exposed to herbivore-induced conspecific plant volatiles by using a Y-tube olfactometer. First, we confirmed that exposed uninfested leaves next to infested leaves were more attractive to carnivorous mites Phytoseiulus persimilis than uninfested leaves next to uninfested conspecific leaves. Under the same conditions, uninfested leaves next to infested conspecific leaves were more attractive to T. urticae than uninfested leaves next to uninfested leaves. Based on these data, we discuss the role of the volatiles from the exposed plants in a tritrophic system.