Sexual communication of Spodoptera frugiperda from West Africa: Adaptation of an invasive species and implications for pest management

Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 19;10(1):2892. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59708-7.

Abstract

The pest species Spodoptera frugiperda, which is native to North and South America, has invaded Africa in 2016. The species consists of two strains, the corn-strain and rice-strain, which differ in their sexual communication. When we investigated populations from Benin and Nigeria, consisting of corn-strain and rice-corn-hybrid descendants, we found no strain-specific sexual communication differences. Both genotypes exhibited the same pheromone composition, consisting of around 97% (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:Ac), 2% (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate (Z7-12:Ac), and 1% (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate (Z9-12:Ac), they had similar electrophysiological responses, and all mated around three hours into scotophase. However, we found geographic variation between African and American populations. The sex pheromone of African corn-strain and hybrid descendant females was similar to American rice-strain females and showed higher percentages of the male-attracting minor component Z7-12:Ac. In addition, African males exhibited the highest antennal sensitivity towards Z7-12:Ac, while American males showed highest sensitivity towards the major pheromone component Z9-14:Ac. Increasing the production of and response to the critical minor component Z7-12:Ac may reduce communication interference with other African Spodoptera species that share the same major pheromone component. The implications of our results on pheromone-based pest management strategies are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological* / drug effects
  • Africa, Western
  • Animals
  • Arthropod Antennae / drug effects
  • Arthropod Antennae / physiology
  • Dodecanol / analogs & derivatives
  • Dodecanol / pharmacology
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Introduced Species*
  • Male
  • Pest Control*
  • Pheromones / pharmacology
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Spodoptera / drug effects
  • Spodoptera / genetics
  • Spodoptera / physiology*
  • Zea mays

Substances

  • 9-tetradecenyl acetate
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
  • Pheromones
  • 9-dodecenyl acetate
  • Dodecanol