Chemistryvis-à-vis maternalism in lace bugs (Heteroptera: Tingidae): Alarm pheromones and exudate defense inCorythucha andGargaphia species

Abstract

The hawthorn lace bug,Corythucha cydoniae, and the eggplant lace bug,Gargaphia solani, possess alarm pheromones that are produced in dorsal abdominal glands (DAGs). WhenG. solani nymphs are grasped, they emit secretion from both DAGs; the posterior DAG secretion alone elicits alarm, but the anterior DAG secretion may hasten the response. InC. cydoniae, the response is due to a synergism between the anterior and posterior DAG secretions, and nymphs are apparently unable to voluntarily release their DAG secretions; both DAGs must be ruptured for the pheromone to escape. The alarm pheromones are interspecifically active in patterns matching the intraspecific activities. Compounds identified from tingid DAG secretions that are involved in the alarm messages are: (E)2-hexenal, (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal, acetaldehyde, geraniol, and linalool. A new natural product of unknown function (designated nerolidol aldehyde) was identified from the anterior DAG secretions of both species.