Single experience learning of host fruit selection by lepidopteran larvae

Area of Science:

• Insect behavior
• Chemical ecology
• Pest management

Background:

• Neonate larvae of the codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) seek host fruits post-hatch.
• Host fruit selection is triggered by kairomones in fruit volatiles, but the precise mechanism remains unclear.
• Understanding host selection is crucial for developing effective pest management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of single experience learning in host apple selection and infestation by codling moth neonates.
• To determine the types of learning involved and their retention times in neonate larvae.

Main Methods:

• Experimental training of neonate codling moth larvae using host apple volatiles.
• Assessment of host fruit selection and infestation behaviors after training.
• Evaluation of learning acquisition and memory retention periods for different conditioning types.

Main Results:

• Codling moth neonates exhibit single experience learning in host fruit selection and infestation.
• Two learning forms were identified: preference induction and aversion conditioning, both acquired within 3 hours.
• Aversion conditioning memory persisted for over 3 days, while preference induction memory lasted only 3 hours.

Conclusions:

• Neonate codling moth host selection is influenced by learned experiences, specifically preference induction and aversion conditioning.
• The differential retention times suggest an adaptive strategy: short-term preference for immediate opportunities and long-term aversion for detrimental encounters.
• This learning capability offers potential targets for novel, behavior-based pest control strategies against codling moth.