The influence of odour on the oviposition behaviour of the cabbage root fly

Host plant odours are known to be important in long-range host location by the cabbage root fly, whereas at short distances orientation is mainly visual. We show that olfaction also plays a significant role after a fly lands on a plant and before it moves down onto the soil to oviposit. Host plant acceptance by the cabbage root fly seems to result from a synergistic response to simultaneously perceived olfactory and contact chemostimulation.