Selection behavior of Leptocybe invasa with different Eucalyptus cultivars and colors.

Abstract

In order to assess the oviposition preference of Leptocybe invasa to Eucalyptus cultivars，the smell of 13 different cultivars and colors on host preference with Leptocybe invasa Fisher et La Salle （Eucalyptus gall wasp） were studied in the laboratory, and the selection behavior for oviposition of this pest was studied in the field. Results revealed （1） strong differences in host preference of female adults presented in 13 different Eucalyptus cultivars. The Eucalyptus gall wasp preferred the smell from 10 Eucalyptus cultivars with Eucalyptus urophylla Eucalyptus camaldulensis clone DH201-2 the most preferred. However, the pest had negative taxis or no selection for Eucalyptus wetarensis E. camaldulensis clone GL3 and Eucalyptus cloeziana. （2） Color tests using color cards showed obvious differences in pest-attraction with pure white （RAL9010） and signal yellow （RAL1003） having a strong attracting effect （selection coefficients，respectively，0.29 and 0.28）. （3） Oviposition scars per leaf with E. urophylla E. camaldulensis clone DH201-2 were greater than all other cultivars and none were found on E. wetarensis E. camaldulensis and E. cloeziana. It indicated that the smell and color of host Eucalyptus significantly affected L. invasa oviposition preference. ［Ch，1 fig. 2 tab. 18 ref.］