Insect odour perception: Recognition of odour components by flower foraging mothsExport / Share PlumX View Altmetrics View AltmetricsCunningham, J. P., Moore, C. J., Zalucki, M. P. and Cribb, B. W. (2006) Insect odour perception: Recognition of odour components by flower foraging moths. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 273 (1597). pp. 2035-2040. ISSN 0962-8452 Full text not currently attached. Access may be available via the Publisher's website or OpenAccess link. Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2006.3559 AbstractOdours emitted by flowers are complex blends of volatile compounds. These odours are learnt by flower-visiting insect species, improving their recognition of rewarding flowers and thus foraging efficiency. We investigated the flexibility of floral odour learning by testing whether adult moths recognize single compounds common to flowers on which they forage. Dual choice preference tests on Helicoverpa armigera moths allowed free flying moths to forage on one of three flower species; Argyranthemum frutescens (federation daisy), Cajanus cajan (pigeonpea) or Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco). Results showed that, (i) a benzenoid (phenylacetaldehyde) and a monoterpene (linalool) were subsequently recognized after visits to flowers that emitted these volatile constituents, (ii) in a preference test, other monoterpenes in the flowers' odour did not affect the moths' ability to recognize the monoterpene linalool and (iii) relative preferences for two volatiles changed after foraging experience on a single flower species that emitted both volatiles. The importance of using free flying insects and real flowers to understand the mechanisms involved in floral odour learning in nature are discussed in the context of our findings.
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