Interactions of insect pheromones and plant semiochemicals

Abstract

Plant semiochemicals are known to produce a wide range of behavioral responses in insects. Some insects sequester or acquire host plant compounds and use them as sex pheromones or sex pheromone precursors. Other insects produce or release sex pheromones in response to specific host plant cues, and chemicals from host plants often synergistically enhance the response of an insect to sex pheromones. Plant volatiles can also have inhibitory or repellent effects that interrupt insect responses to pheromones and attract predators and parasitoids to the attacking species after herbivory injury. Here, we review different interactions between plant semiochemicals and insect pheromones, paying attention to those that can result in the development of more efficient and reliable programs for pest control.