Walker, G.P., & Bednar, L.F. 1986 Behavioral response of California red scale crawlers (Homoptera: Diaspididae) to solutions behind artificial membranes.. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 79: 549-553.

Notes: Aonidiella aurantii crawlers responded to various solutions behind aritifical membranes by secreting wax threads that form the scale cover. This response was used to evaluate gustatory stimuli responsible for crawler settling. CRS crawlers responded positively to a wide range of sucrose concentrations (3-50%) but did not respond to glucose, fructose, maltose, or starch. Amino acid, vitamin, and mineral mixtures from published aphid diets elicited no response or a weak response. An aphid diet was slightly more acceptable than sucrose alone in one experiment, but not in another. Crawlers responded positively to sucrose and amino acid mixtures over a wide range of pH (2.8-11.2); the response was highest near neutral pH, and significant inhibition was seen at pH 2.8.