The generalist predator Nesidiocoris tenuis, an effective biological control agent of numerous pests of the tomato crops, can also trigger plant defence mechanisms (direct and indirect) due to its phytophagous behaviour. In southern Europe, Nesidiocoris tenuis is frequently released in tomato greenhouses to control the invasive pest Tuta absoluta, sometimes combined with another biocontrol agent, the egg parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae. In this study, using olfactometer bioassays, we showed that the modification of the volatile chemical profile induced by the plant feeding activity of the mirid made tomato plants more attractive to T. achaeae, both in the absence and in the presence of T. absoluta eggs or larvae. This result was discussed in relation to difference observed among the chemical profiles of the volatile organic compounds released by tomato plants punctured by N. tenuis, without or in combination with T. absoluta infestation. We found that a few compounds (e.g. β-pinene and myrcene) could play a role in the foraging behaviour of T. achaeae in this scenario. Overall, our data support the emerging idea of an ecological role of N. tenuis, in addition to its predatory activity, in making tomato crops more resilient against the attack of pests, including T. absoluta.

通才捕食者Nesidiocoris tenuis是番茄作物众多害虫的有效生物防治剂，由于其植食行为，也可以触发植物防御机制（直接和间接）。在南欧，在番茄温室中经常投放Nesidiocoris tenuis以控制侵入性害虫Tuta absoluta，有时还会与另一种生物防治剂，卵寄生蜂Trichogramma achaeae结合使用。在这项研究中，我们使用嗅觉计生物测定法表明，在不存在和存在T. absoluta卵或幼虫。这一结果与观察到的被细猪笼草刺穿的番茄植物释放的挥发性有机化合物的化学特征之间的差异进行了讨论，没有或与T. absoluta感染相结合。我们发现在这种情况下，一些化合物（例如 β-蒎烯和月桂烯）可以在T. achaeae的觅食行为中发挥作用。总的来说，我们的数据支持了N. tenuis的生态作用的新兴观点，除了它的捕食活动，使番茄作物更能抵御包括T. absoluta 在内的害虫的侵袭。