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Experience required for pheromone recognition by the apple maggot fly

Abstract

Remarkable progress has been made during the past 20 yr in the identification of chemical components and receptor sites of pheromones of various insects. However, our understanding of the physiological and ecological parameters which affect the response of individual insects to pheromones remains rather limited. Here we report that in apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella, females require experience with oviposition-deterring pheromone (ODP) before they are able to discriminate between ODP-marked and unmarked host fruit. This seems to be the first conclusive evidence in an insect that pheromone recognition may depend on previous contact with the particular pheromone.

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Roitberg, B., Prokopy, R. Experience required for pheromone recognition by the apple maggot fly. Nature 292, 540–541 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/292540a0

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