Maimon, H., Levi-Zada, A., Dunkelblum, E., Protasov, A., Assael, F., Eliyho, M., Franco, J.C., & Mendel, Z. 2008 Male pherotypes in Mediterranean vine mealybug Planococcus ficus.. Proceedings of the XI International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies, Oeiras, Portugal, 24-27 September 2007. ISA Press . Lisbon, Portugal 322 pp.

Notes: Abstract: In a previous study we found that Mediterranean vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera; Pseudococcidae) females, collected in Israeli vineyards and reared on potato sprouts, produced (S)-lavandulyl senecioate (LS) and (S)-lavandulyl isovalerate (LI). Feral males respond to LS and are repelled by LI, whereas laboratory-reared males respond to both compounds. In the present study we addressed the question of whether the production of LI by laboratory-reared females is linked to the occurrence of different male pherotypes (conspecific males that differ in their response to different pheromone compounds). Male pherotypes were characterized according to their specific responses to LS, LI and the sex pheromone of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso) (control). Individual males were exposed to these compounds in no-choice tests in which the compounds were presented in a random succession. Three modes of responding behaviour were determined: attraction, repulsion and indifference. Nine male pherotypes were observed, each of which displayed one or two of modes of behaviour as related to the response to LS or LI. Our finding showed that 80-90% of F1 male offspring of feral females were attracted to LS and repelled by LI. This pherotype comprised only about 20% of the males that were produced after several generations in the laboratory. Other common laboratory male pherotypes were those that were attracted to both LS and LI, and those that were indifferent to the tested compounds. All nine male pherotypes were observed among F1 male offspring of feral females. Among laboratory males, a small proportion were attracted to LI and repelled by LS. Among hybrid males of reciprocal cross-mating between P. citri and P. ficus we found pherotypes that were attracted to LS or LI or both, and also to P. citri pheromone. The circumstances that may determine the frequency of occurrence of the various pherotypes of P. ficus and the Significance of the results with respect to the intraspecific relationships between these Planococcus spp. will be presented.