Electrophysiological and behavioral response of Mallada basalis (Walker) to volatiles of host plant and its prey

Electroantennogram (EAG) and behavioural response from both male and female of Mallada basalis was recorded to screen the bio-active compounds of host plant, prey and six related compounds. The gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of host plantextracts including uninfested plant, plant infested with aphids and aphids revealed the presence of 28 volatile compounds. The response elicited by plant infested with aphids was significantly higher than uninfested plant, its prey and synthetic compounds. Significant difference was found between EAG response of male and female against volatiles of plant infested with aphids. The time spent of adult to host plant and synthetic compounds was higher over control (n-hexane). Dual choice experiments conducted in Y-tube olfactometer revealed the higher attraction of predator to volatiles of plant infested with aphids. Heneicosane and hexadecane attracted higher percentage of M. basalis. Our results provide the evidence of differential antennal sensitivity of both male and female to volatiles of host plant and aphids.