Date of Award
2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Biology
Supervisor
Dr. Jeremy McNeil
Abstract
In fall, gynoparae and males of the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), migrate from secondary to primary host plants, where mating occurs. Little is known about courtship behaviour or the factors affecting how males locate host plants and receptive females. Mating assays were carried out to test the hypothesis that female age affected mating success. The data obtained did not support my hypothesis but were used to develop a mating behaviour ethogramme. In wind tunnel bioassays I tested the hypotheses that (i) the upwind responses of males to odour cues would decrease with increasing wind speed and (ii) male responses would be greater to primary host plant volatiles with sex pheromone than to plant volatiles alone. The results obtained supported both hypotheses. These findings support the idea that host plant volatiles are long distance cues for males and the female sex pheromone is used once on the host plant.
Recommended Citation
Alexander, Wendy Marie, "COURTSHIP BEHAVIOUR OF MACROSIPHUM EUPHORBIAE (THOMAS), AS WELL AS THE EFFECTS OF HOST PLANT VOLATILES AND WIND SPEED ON THE UPWIND MOVEMENT OF MALES" (2011). Digitized Theses. 3294.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/3294