Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a major global pest of many crops, including maize (Zea mays). This insect is known to use host plant-derived volatile organic compounds to locate suitable hosts during both its adult and larval stages, yet the function of individual compounds remains mostly enigmatic. In this study, we use a combination of volatile profiling, electrophysiological assays, pair-wise choice behavioral assays, and chemical supplementation treatments to identify and assess specific compounds from maize that influence S. frugiperda host location. Our findings reveal that methyl salicylate and (E)-alpha-bergamotene are oviposition attractants for adult moths but do not impact larval behavior. While geranyl acetate can act as an oviposition attractant or repellent depending on the host volatile context and (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT) is an oviposition deterrent. These compounds can also be attractive to the larvae when applied to specific maize inbreds. These data show that S. frugiperda uses different plant volatile cues for host location in its adult and larval stage and that the background volatile context that specific volatiles are perceived in, alters their impact as behavioral cues.

秋粘虫 ( Spodoptera frugiperda ) 是许多作物的主要全球害虫，包括玉米 ( Zea mays )。已知这种昆虫在其成虫和幼虫阶段使用宿主植物衍生的挥发性有机化合物来定位合适的宿主，但单个化合物的功能仍然大部分是谜。在这项研究中，我们结合使用挥发性分析、电生理分析、成对选择行为分析和化学补充治疗来识别和评估玉米中影响S. frugiperda宿主位置的特定化合物。我们的研究结果表明，水杨酸甲酯和（E)-α-佛手柑是成虫的产卵引诱剂，但不影响幼虫的行为。虽然醋酸香叶酯可以作为产卵引诱剂或驱虫剂，具体取决于宿主的挥发性环境，而 ( E )-4,8-​​二甲基-1,3,7-壬三烯 (DMNT) 是一种产卵威慑剂。当应用于特定的玉米自交系时，这些化合物对幼虫也很有吸引力。这些数据表明S. frugiperda在其成虫和幼虫阶段使用不同的植物挥发性线索作为宿主位置，并且感知特定挥发性物质的背景挥发性环境改变了它们作为行为线索的影响。