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Techniques for Behavioral Bioassays

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Techniques in Pheromone Research

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Experimental Entomology ((SSEXP))

Abstract

Insect pheromone research involves tremendous effort and exacting techniques, not only for isolating and identifying chemicals, covered in earlier and later chapters in this volume, but also in recognizing which chemicals are behaviorally active. Tests to demonstrate the behavioral activity of a compound are essential to proving that a compound is a pheromone component, i.e., that it is used in intraspecific communication. In addition, behavioral tests, or bioassays, of chemicals’ effects on receiving individuals can identify the type of response they elicit. Therefore, well-designed bioassays can be invaluable for deducing the communicative function (alarm, aggregation, sexual communication, etc.) of a chemical identified from an insect. They can also give information as to the mechanisms that are used by responding insects to move toward or away from the chemical source.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Divison of Toxicology and Physiology, Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA

    T. C. Baker

  2. Department of Entomology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    R. T. Cardé

Authors
  1. T. C. Baker
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  2. R. T. Cardé
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harbor Branch Foundation, 33450, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA

    Hans E. Hummel

  2. Department of Entomology, University of California, 92521, Riverside, California, USA

    Thomas A. Miller

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© 1984 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Baker, T.C., Cardé, R.T. (1984). Techniques for Behavioral Bioassays. In: Hummel, H.E., Miller, T.A. (eds) Techniques in Pheromone Research. Springer Series in Experimental Entomology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5220-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5220-7_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9743-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-5220-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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