Insectivorous birds eavesdrop on the pheromones of their prey.
Chemical cues play a fundamental role in mate attraction and mate choice. Lepidopteran females, such as the winter moth (Operophtera brumata), emit pheromones to attract males in the reproductive period. However, these chemical cues could also be eavesdropped by predators. To our knowledge, no studi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2018-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5802436?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1819059805210279936 |
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| author | Irene Saavedra Luisa Amo |
| author_facet | Irene Saavedra Luisa Amo |
| author_sort | Irene Saavedra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chemical cues play a fundamental role in mate attraction and mate choice. Lepidopteran females, such as the winter moth (Operophtera brumata), emit pheromones to attract males in the reproductive period. However, these chemical cues could also be eavesdropped by predators. To our knowledge, no studies have examined whether birds can detect pheromones of their prey. O. brumata adults are part of the winter diet of some insectivorous tit species, such as the great tit (Parus major) and blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). We performed a field experiment aimed to disentangle whether insectivorous birds can exploit the pheromones emitted by their prey for prey location. We placed artificial larvae and a dispenser on branches of Pyrenean oak trees (Quercus pyrenaica). In half of the trees we placed an O. brumata pheromone dispenser and in the other half we placed a control dispenser. We measured the predation rate of birds on artificial larvae. Our results show that more trees had larvae with signs of avian predation when they contained an O. brumata pheromone than when they contained a control dispenser. Furthermore, the proportion of artificial larvae with signs of avian predation was greater in trees that contained the pheromone than in control trees. Our results indicate that insectivorous birds can exploit the pheromones emitted by moth females to attract males, as a method of prey detection. These results highlight the potential use of insectivorous birds in the biological control of insect pests. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T14:16:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-740cb896c2064f3db8d9d018bad5cfe6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T14:16:56Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-740cb896c2064f3db8d9d018bad5cfe62022-12-21T19:00:54ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-01132e019041510.1371/journal.pone.0190415Insectivorous birds eavesdrop on the pheromones of their prey.Irene SaavedraLuisa AmoChemical cues play a fundamental role in mate attraction and mate choice. Lepidopteran females, such as the winter moth (Operophtera brumata), emit pheromones to attract males in the reproductive period. However, these chemical cues could also be eavesdropped by predators. To our knowledge, no studies have examined whether birds can detect pheromones of their prey. O. brumata adults are part of the winter diet of some insectivorous tit species, such as the great tit (Parus major) and blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). We performed a field experiment aimed to disentangle whether insectivorous birds can exploit the pheromones emitted by their prey for prey location. We placed artificial larvae and a dispenser on branches of Pyrenean oak trees (Quercus pyrenaica). In half of the trees we placed an O. brumata pheromone dispenser and in the other half we placed a control dispenser. We measured the predation rate of birds on artificial larvae. Our results show that more trees had larvae with signs of avian predation when they contained an O. brumata pheromone than when they contained a control dispenser. Furthermore, the proportion of artificial larvae with signs of avian predation was greater in trees that contained the pheromone than in control trees. Our results indicate that insectivorous birds can exploit the pheromones emitted by moth females to attract males, as a method of prey detection. These results highlight the potential use of insectivorous birds in the biological control of insect pests.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5802436?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Irene Saavedra Luisa Amo Insectivorous birds eavesdrop on the pheromones of their prey. PLoS ONE |
| title | Insectivorous birds eavesdrop on the pheromones of their prey. |
| title_full | Insectivorous birds eavesdrop on the pheromones of their prey. |
| title_fullStr | Insectivorous birds eavesdrop on the pheromones of their prey. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insectivorous birds eavesdrop on the pheromones of their prey. |
| title_short | Insectivorous birds eavesdrop on the pheromones of their prey. |
| title_sort | insectivorous birds eavesdrop on the pheromones of their prey |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5802436?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT irenesaavedra insectivorousbirdseavesdroponthepheromonesoftheirprey AT luisaamo insectivorousbirdseavesdroponthepheromonesoftheirprey |