Volatiles emitted by apple fruitlets infested by larvae of the European apple sawfly

The effect of infestation by larvae of the European apple sawfly (Hoplocampa testudinea) on the emission of volatiles from apple fruitlets was investigated. Healthy apples emitted a blend of terpenoids and a few aromatic and short aliphatic compounds. Infested apples emitted the same compounds as healthy apples. However, trans,trans-alpha-farnesene, trans-beta-ocimene and another terpenoid were emitted in significantly larger amounts, whereas the other volatiles showed no quantitative change. The results were obtained with picked apples and could be confirmed in the field with single apples left on the tree. Several non-terpenoid volatiles emanated from the frass and from epidermal glands of the sawfly larvae. The possible ecological significance of the increased emission of terpenoids by infested apples is discussed with reference to a parasitic wasp that attacks the sawfly larvae.