Aphid aqueous-extract as a source of host searching kairomones for the aphidophagous predatorCoccinella septempunctata L. (Col., Coccinellidae)

AdultCoccinella septempunctata, a coccinellid predator of the bean aphidAphis fabae Scop., responded to aqueous extract containing kairomones of the prey. The crude aphidextract was topically dropped onto either clean leaves ofVicia faba or clean Petri-dishes. After application of aqueous-extract at different aphid densities, the predator showed variations in the attractivity and searching behaviour in comparisons with control. The variations are summarized as follows: (1) the aqueous-extract of aphids attract or directC. septempunctata adults to the treated vials at all aphid densities. The number of attracted or directed coccinellid adults was directly proportional with aphid concentrations; (2) the predatorC. septempunctata adult intensified its searching behaviour by increasing the total path length walked; (3) the number of turns exhibited is significantly higher as compared with those of control; and (4) the arrested time spent by coccinellid adults with treated plant is much more than that with clean plant at all aphid densities. The present results show that the aphid aqueous-extract contains the active ingredients (kairomone) which induce considerable changes in the searching pattern of the predator coccinellid adults.