Behavioural response of aphids to the alarm pheromone component ( <i>E </i> )‐β‐farnesene in the field

Abstract

Abstract. The alarm response of aphids to ( E )‐β‐farnesene was examined for 59 species in the subfamilies Aphididae, Callaphididae, Chaitophoridae and Lachnidae, in the field. Forty‐one aphid species responded to ( E )‐β‐farnesene at a dosage of 1 ng and/or 10 ng; however, 18 species did not. Myrmecophilous aphids did not react as extensively or strongly as non‐myrmecophilous aphids. The response of aphids to ( E )‐β‐farnesene was related to host‐plant species.