Marler, T.E., & Marler, P.N. 2018 Rhyzobius lophanthae Behavior is Influenced by Cycad Plant Age, Providing Odor Samples in a Y-tube Olfactometer. Insects 9, 194; doi:10.3390/insects9040194
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Notes: The scale predator Rhyzobius lophanthae Blaisdell was introduced to Guam and Rota to control invasive Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi armored scale infestations on the native Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill populations. The predator demonstrated a clear preference for A. yasumatsui infesting adult plants, resulting in 100% seedling mortality due to the lack of a biocontrol of the scale on seedlings. The results indicated that the substrate used in olfactometry influenced the results, and interpretations of charcoal-filtered air assays should be made with caution. Volatile chemical cues are involved in R. lophanthae preferring A. yasumatsui located on C. micronesica adults when infested adult and seedling leaves are present.
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