Oviposition deterrent from eggs ofCallosobruchus maculatus: Spacing mechanism or artifact?

Females ofCallosobruchus maculatus (F.) avoid ovipositing on host seeds already bearing conspecific eggs, and thus distribute eggs evenly among seeds. This behavior was presumed to be mediated by an ether-soluble "oviposition marker" that is deposited with the egg and can be extracted from egg-laden artificial hosts (glass beads). Ablation experiments revealed that the true factors promoting an even dispersion of eggs were perceived by the maxillary and labial palpi. In contrast, receptors on the antennae were largely responsible for avoidance of seeds treated with "oviposition marker." Taken together, these results suggest that a careful distinction should be drawn between factors that promote spacing of eggs under natural conditions and general oviposition deterrents that may be isolated from both sexes.