Behavioural Response of Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) to Natural Enemy and Pest Mediated Semiochemicals

Abstract

The role of semiochemicals originating from the aphid and predators were studied using a four arm olfactometer. At higher densities, aphids produce more alarm pheromone which would serve as kairomonal cues to the coccinellids so that it attracts more predators compared to lower density of aphid infestation. Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) showed more attraction towards high aphid population densities (150) of Aphis craccivora Koch and C. sexamculata showed a negative response towards the eggs of these predators in aphid colonies in the olfactometer.