EXPLORING SEMIOCHEMICAL BASED OVIPOSITION RESPONSE OF PHLEBOTOMUS ARGENTIPES (DIPTERA: PSYCHODIDAE) TOWARDS PRE-EXISTING COLONY INGREDIENTS

This research aimed to evaluate the semio-chemical mediated oviposition responses as well as preference of female Phlebotomus argentipes - VL vector in Indian Subcontinent, towards the conspecific eggs and frass i.e, the chief ingredients of pre-existing colony. Through the laboratory based bioassay studies, it was observed that female insects become highly attracted & stimulated to deposit eggs on the surface co-treated with mixtures of aqueous suspension of frass and conspecific eggs (T=2063; 171.92 ± 16.5), as compared to those either treated with aqueous frass filterate (T=1755; 146.25 ± 26.5) or aqueous filtrate of conspecific eggs (T=1514; 126.17 ± 19.2) alone. Comparing the tendency of female insects to oviposit, it was also observed that aqueous frass filtrate (101.625 ± 39.3807) and hexane filtrate of conspecific eggs (T=668; 83.5 ± 15.3) possess high attractancy for the egg deposition by female insect population over the aqueous filterate of conspecific eggs (60.125 ± 20.4341) and hexane filtrate of frass (T=371; 46.3 ± 19.3) respectively. This observation evidenced that oviposition attractant associated with frass & conspecific eggs (co-working as an oviposition attractant & stimulant for egg deposition by female sandflies) get dissolved in water & organic solvent respectively releasing aroma that positively attract ovipositing female insects towards it & stimulating them for the purpose of egg deposition.