Olfactory-behavior
Guides
Crioceris duodecimpunctata
Spotted Asparagus Beetle
A small leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, Crioceris duodecimpunctata is a significant invasive pest of asparagus cultivations. Adults feed on tender shoots and leaves, while larvae develop exclusively on asparagus berries. The species is widespread across the Palearctic region and has been introduced to North America. Molecular studies confirm its status as a sister taxon to C. quatuordecimpunctata, with both species originating nearly simultaneously from a common ancestor.
Diaphania indica
cucumber moth, cotton caterpillar, leaf roller
Diaphania indica is a widespread moth species occurring primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, native to southern Asia. It is a significant agricultural pest of cucurbitaceous crops, with larvae feeding on leaves, stems, and fruits of host plants. The species has been documented on multiple continents and is subject to biological control efforts using parasitoid wasps. Laboratory studies have established detailed demographic parameters and life cycle duration.
Drosophila falleni
Drosophila falleni is a mycophagous fruit fly native to northeastern North America. It specializes in feeding on the fruiting bodies of diverse fungal genera. The species serves as a host for the parasitic nematode Howardula aoronymphium, which manipulates host olfactory behavior. Its genome was sequenced in 2019 to study immune system evolution.
Pityogenes bidentatus
Pityogenes bidentatus is a European bark beetle that colonizes Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The species exhibits sophisticated olfactory-mediated behaviors for host location, including attraction to aggregation pheromone components (grandisol and cis-verbenol) and active avoidance of nonhost volatiles. Its behavioral response to monoterpene odors is context-dependent: avoidance occurs during flight but not during walking, likely representing distinct sensory mechanisms for long-range host discrimination versus short-range gallery establishment.
bark-beetleScolytinaePinus-sylvestrisaggregation-pheromoneolfactory-behaviorhost-selectionmonoterpene-avoidancecontext-dependent-plasticitynonhost-avoidancenorthern-Europegrandisolcis-verbenol1-octene-3-olβ-caryophylleneflight-behaviorwalking-behaviorelectroantennographypopulation-genetics-modelnematode-associationBursaphelenchus-pinophilusnematangiaCzech-Republicmixed-forestconifer-forestScots-pineNorway-sprucenonhost-volatileschemical-ecologyinsect-plant-interactionsherbivore-host-rangesensory-ecologybehavioral-plasticitypheromone-ecologyforest-entomologyinvasive-potential-(North-America-records)Rhagoletis zephyria
snowberry maggot, western cherry fruit fly
Rhagoletis zephyria is a tephritid fruit fly native to western North America, commonly known as the snowberry maggot. It is a sibling species of the economically significant apple maggot (R. pomonella), with which it shares substantial morphological similarity and a history of occasional hybridization. The species is specialized on snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.) as its primary host, and exhibits distinct adult eclosion timing that contributes to reproductive isolation from R. pomonella. R. zephyria is not considered an agricultural pest, though its visual similarity to R. pomonella creates identification challenges for regulatory monitoring.