Host Selection by Ovipositing Cowpea Weevils: Patterning of Input from Separate Sense Organs

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata

Volume

43

Publication Date

1-1-1987

First Page

169

Last Page

173

Abstract

Ablations were performed to identify the sense organs used in host selection by ovipositing cowpea weevils, Callosobruchus maculatus. Antennae, foretarsi and palpi (maxillary + labial) were removed singly or in combination, and females were offered pairwise choices of four host species. Removal of the palpi consistently had the greatest effect on host choice, whereas the relative importance of other organs depended on the pair of hosts tested. Different organs may provide conflicting input as to the ‘preferred’ host; certain ablations led to a complete reversal in preference (as opposed to a simple loss of discrimination). Input from separate organs appeared to be received in a dominance hierarchy

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