ABSTRACT
This chapter provides in-depth information about a few selected examples of stimulants and attractants. The compounds responsible for the activities were known as secondary plant constituents, compounds that were not required for primary growth and development of the plant. The feeding response of the spruce budworm has been found to be influenced only by nonspecific phagostimulants, such as sugars and the amino acid L-proline. However, the oviposition behavior of the female seems to be affected by several factors, including light, gravity, and density of the needles on the twigs. Compounds that stimulate host seeking responses in parasites are defined as host habitat stimulants. Some insects have the capability to sequester plant compounds, and/or to biochemically alter them to thence be employed as pheromones. Some plant compounds may be toxic (allomones) to some insects but kairomones to others. The chapter provides a fairly exhaustive listing of categories of behavioral responses and the related allelochemics.
