Phytophagous insects employ various sensory cues in the host plant location such as visual, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile stimuli, which are perceived by sensory systems and integrated in higher brain centres to trigger the correct behavioural responses. In the present study, the host location process of the oligophagous species Chnootriba elaterii (melon ladybird) is investigated in controlled conditions using both a Y-Tube olfactometer and an open Y-Track olfactometer. Olfactory and visual cues from the host plant act synergistically to lead the ladybirds towards the host plant. Females of C. elaterii are not able to discriminate between host and non-host plants using either olfactory or visual cues alone. Visual cues, particularly those associated with the colour green, are of higher relative importance compared to olfactory cues in the host location process. Green dummy plants made of cardboard represent strong supernormal stimuli for C. elaterii females. The results of the present study can shed light on the host location process of Coccinellidae and can help to develop visual or chemical traps which can be useful in monitoring and controlling this important crop pest of the Mediterranean Basin.

植食性昆虫在寄主植物位置利用各种感觉线索，例如视觉、嗅觉、味觉和触觉刺激，这些刺激被感觉系统感知并整合到高级大脑中枢以触发正确的行为反应。在本研究中，使用 Y 管嗅觉计和开放式 Y 轨道嗅觉计在受控条件下研究了寡食性物种Chnootriba elaterii （瓜瓢虫）的宿主定位过程。来自寄主植物的嗅觉和视觉线索协同作用，引导瓢虫走向寄主植物。C. elaterii的雌性无法仅使用嗅觉或视觉线索来区分寄主植物和非寄主植物。与宿主定位过程中的嗅觉线索相比，视觉线索，特别是与绿色相关的视觉线索具有更高的相对重要性。由纸板制成的绿色虚拟植物代表着对 C 的强烈超常刺激。elaterii雌性。本研究的结果可以揭示瓢虫科的寄主定位过程，并有助于开发视觉或化学诱捕器，可用于监测和控制地中海盆地的这种重要农作物害虫。