Laboratory of Chemical and Behavioural Ecology
group of insect evolutionary ecology
The main research trends – chemical ecology, aspects of insects’ interaction among themselves and with the environment by infochemical signals, as well as ecological and evolutionary issues on the behaviour of organisms. Moths (Lepidoptera), honey bees (Hymenoptera) and flies (Diptera) are the main objects under research. Having carried out laboratory and field tests, the structure of sex attractants and their antagonists in 50 insect species of 10 families was determined, and the chemical structure of sex pheromones was identified. Every year, laboratory researchers go abroad, mostly to Iowa University in the USA, the Royal Institute of Technology and Lund University in Sweden, and to Hamburg University in Germany for joint work. Articles prepared with partners from 10 countries have been published, and 2 doctoral theses have been defended in Sweden (Stockholm and Lund).
The laboratory was established in 1988 (head – Dr Habil. Vincas Bûda). The Group of Evolutionary Ecology of Insects was set up in 2003 (head – Dr Eduardas Budrys).
Vincas Būda, Dr Habil. – Head of Laboratory, Chief Researcher
Tel. +370 5 272 92 42, e-mail: vinbuda@ekoi.lt
Interaction of organisms with the environment by signal chemical substances, chemical ecology, behavioural ecology, chemocommunication
Raimondas Mozūraitis, Dr – Senior Researcher
Tel. +370 5 272 92 42, e-mail: raimozu@yahoo.co.uk
Insect pheromones and kairomones
Violeta Apšegaitė, Dr – Researcher
Tel. +370 5 272 92 74, e-mail: apviola@ekoi.lt
Issues on chemical structure of insect pheromones and kairomones
Laima Blažytė-Čereškienė, Dr – Researcher
Tel. +370 5 272 92 74, e-mail: blazyte@ekoi.lt
Capability of bees to learn to identify fragrant substances
Sandra Radžiutė, Dr – Researcher
Tel. +370 5 272 92 42, e-mail: Sansara99@hotmail.com
Kairomones of two-winged insects, their chemocommunication
Vilma Baužienė, Dr – Researcher
Tel. +370 5 272 92 42, e-mail: vilmajon@ekoi.lt
Chemical ecology of flies
Research Services
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Selective monitoring of certain insect species using pheromones or other chemical lures, preparation of methodology and equipment for that work.
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Detection and identification of biologically active (signal) chemical substances.
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Evaluation of the impact of volatile chemical substances, existing in the air, on organisms.
Projects
Preparation and implementation of the methodology of quarantine insect species’ (Choristoneura fumiferana, Choristoneura rosaceana and Scolytidae) monitoring using pheromones (V.Būda)
Search for the potential sex pheromone in the volatile chemical substances of mares’ urine (V.Būda, R.Mozūraitis)
Impact of pheromones on the functioning of chemosensory systems (G.Vaitkevičienė)
Publications
Mozūraitis R., Būda V., Liblikas I., Unelius C.R., Borg-Karlson A.-K. 2002. Parthenogenesis, calling behaviour and insect released volatiles of the leaf miner moth Phyllonorycter emeberizaepenella (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 28: 1191–1208.
Karalius V., Mozūraitis R., Miatleuski J., Būda V., Ivinskis P. 2002. Sex attractants for six clearwing and tineid species (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae and Tineidae) from Kazakhstan and Lithuania. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung, Sect. C 56 (11–12): 1120–1125.
Mozūraitis R., Stranden M., Ramirez M.I., Borg-Karlson A.-K., Mustaparta H. 2002. Germacrene D increase attraction and oviposition by the tobacco budworm moth Heliothis virescens. Chemical Senses 27: 505–509
Karalius V., Būda V., Mozūraitis R. 2003. Monitoring of the currant clearwing (Synanthedon tipuliformis Cl.) (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae) by means of pheromone traps in Lithuania. Acta Zoologica Lituanica 13 (3): 283-289.
Apšegaitė V. 2003. Peculiarities of the composition of pheromone components of instrumentally inseminated honeybee queens (Apis mellifera carnica Poolm.). Acta Zoologica Lituanica 13 (3): 342-347.