# Males of Dalbulus maidis Attract Females Through Volatile Compounds with Potential Pheromone Function: A Tool for Pest Management

## TL;DR

This study shows that male corn leafhoppers attract females using volatile compounds, potentially as pheromones, offering new tools for pest control.

## Contribution

First evidence of intraspecific chemical communication in Dalbulus maidis, a key pest in maize crops.

## Key findings

- Males produce odors that attract females, suggesting a potential sex pheromone function.
- Males avoid odors from stressed females, possibly indicating an alarm pheromone response.
- This is the first study to demonstrate volatile-mediated communication in D. maidis.

## Abstract

Insects use chemical compounds for communication, and sex pheromone is one of the most important signals used by males and females to find each other for mating purposes. The corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, is an insect vector that transmits pathogens causing diseases in maize crops, but it was unknown whether it uses sex pheromones in their communication. In this study, we tested whether D. maidis produces volatile compounds that attract the opposite sex. We collected volatiles from live insects and evaluated their influence on the behavioral responses of conspecifics. We found that males produce odors that attract females. Interestingly, males avoided odors emitted by stressed females, which may suggest the release of an alarm pheromone. These findings highlight for the first time the role of semiochemicals in intraspecific D. maidis communication, and open new perspectives for the development of monitoring and management tools targeting this important pest.

Insects use chemical compounds to communicate with conspecifics and other organisms. The corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) (DeLong & Wolcott), is an important pest in Brazilian maize crops due to its role as a vector of phytopathogens. Despite its economic importance, the chemical communication between sexes in this species remains to be elucidated. This research aimed to unveil whether D. maidis produces chemical compounds that influence the behavior of the opposite sex and may act as sex pheromones. To evaluate the influence of these volatiles, olfactometer bioassays were conducted as dynamic headspace volatile collections from live insects. Results showed that both male and female leafhoppers emit volatile compounds; however, no sex-specific compounds were detected. Females were attracted to male odors and male aeration extracts, suggesting males produce sex-specific volatiles. Interestingly, males avoided odors from non-acclimated females, which may indicate possible alarm pheromone release. Although the compounds were not identified, this is the first study to demonstrate intraspecific chemical communication in D. maidis mediated by volatiles, and the first such record in Membracoidea. These results contribute to understanding the pest’s biology and support the development of monitoring and control strategies in maize crops.