Effect of Artificial Diet Components on Conspecific Repellency of Larval Oral Secretions from Western Spruce Budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract A choice feeding bioassay was used to investigate the effects of artificial diet components on the repellency of larval oral secretions from western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, to conspecific larvae. Oral secretions from insects fed on agar supplemented with linseed oil were as repellent as secretions from insects fed on complete artificial diet. Secretions from insects fed on agar alone, agar and casein, or agar and wheat germ were not significantly more repellent than distilled water; neither was linseed oil alone. Linseed oil consists of glycerides of several fatty acids, which are likely metabolized quickly in the insect gut; repellency of oral secretions could be due to any of the related fatty acids or metabolites.