Behavioral and electrophysiological responses of mango hopper, Idioscopus nitidulus (Walker) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) to host cues

Mango hopper, Idioscopus nitidulus (Walker), is a perilous pest monophagous to mango. Through co-evolution, hoppers have been tuned to detect mango inflorescence, which is their sole feeding and oviposition forte. Here, we studied the behavior of the mango hopper, I. nitidulus, towards headspace volatiles of mango (cv. Totapuri) inflorescence through olfactometer bioassays and GC-EAD. The chemical composition of inflorescence volatiles were analyzed by GC-MS/MS. The time spent by adult I. nitidulus in the treatment and control was found significantly different. Electrophysiological responses of hoppers to volatiles of mango flowers revealed fifteen volatile compounds. This study provides evidence that chemical cues in mango flower volatiles may act as probable attractants.