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Chemicals in Plants

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Host-Plant Selection by Phytophagous Insects

Part of the book series: Contemporary Topics in Entomology ((COTE,volume 2))

Abstract

The acceptance or rejection of plants by phytophagous insects depends on their behavioral responses to plant features. These features may be physical or chemical. Morphological characters of plants can influence acceptability, either directly by providing suitable visual cues, or by influencing the ability of insects to walk on or bite into tissue. Furthermore, most species of phytophagous insects are confined to certain plant parts, and this will determine the physical and chemical attributes to which the insects respond. The more detailed anatomy and its associated chemistry may constrain or otherwise influence feeding of small insects in particular.

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© 1994 Chapman & Hall, New York, NY

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(1994). Chemicals in Plants. In: Host-Plant Selection by Phytophagous Insects. Contemporary Topics in Entomology, vol 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-30455-7_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-30455-7_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-412-03131-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-585-30455-7

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