Effect of methyl salicylate and d-limonene on attrac-tive of predator chilocorus bipustulatus (l. )‎ to the infes-tation of citrus leaves with yellow scale insect aonidi-ella orientalis

Abstract EN

To study the response of the predator Chilocorus bipustulatus to secondary metabolites released by citrus leaves as a result of infestation by the yellow scale insect Aonidiella orientalis, a laboratory experiment was conducted using a closed air tunnel device (Olfactometer) to examine the insect behav-ior.

Samples of citrus leaves were collected from citrus orchards located in Baghdad, Al-Madaen region from healthy and infested citrus leaves.

The predator that used in the study was obtained from the Biological Control Unit Laboratory, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad.

Based on recent studies, the behavior of predators to volatile organic compounds that show effectiveness of attracting to Methyl salicylate and D-Limonene were used into two different concentra-tions (/ 1 & 10 μl), the results showed that the predator response and attracted to methyl salicylate for both concentrations (1 & 10 μl /ML) and the concentration (10 μl /ML) of the D- limonen in comparison with N-Hexane as control.

To support these results, we recommended to conduct field experiments using special traps to find out the response of the natural enemies to the Secondary metabolites on citrus orchards.