Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Tolerance of Cabbage Butterflies to Urban Pollutants
Published on: August 18, 2023
Plant secondary compounds as oviposition deterrents for cabbage butterfly,Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)
1Department of Entomology, University of Hawaii, 96822, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Abstract:
Oviposition byPieris rapae butterflies was deterred by spraying the plant secondary compounds coumarin and rutin on cabbage plants in greenhouse choice tests. In no-choice tests ranging from 5 min to 24 hr, acceptance of rutin-treated plants for oviposition increased with trial duration. Both coumarin and rutin deterred oviposition primarily by affecting prealighting rather than postalighting behavior, indicating that deterrence was mediated by noncontact cues.
Related Concept Videos
Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores
Introduction to Plant Diversity
Pollination and Flower Structure

