International Ethological Conference, 24th (1995), Honolulu

The role of visual stimuli in ovipositing behavior of Eurema hecabe

Tadao Hirota and Yoshiomi Katoh

Department of Biology, International Christian University

ABSTRACT. The role of color and shape in host location of female E. hacabe (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) was examined using plant models made of square color papers treated with methanol extract of a host plant, Alibizzia julibrissin. Green color, in particular yellow-green, was most attractive among various color models. Among models of different shapes, a divided model or a frame model was chosen predominantly rather than square one. Therefore, it is considered that female E. hacabe use color and shape as cues in ovipositing behavior.

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