Chemical mediation of egg dumping in the lace bug Gargaphia solani Heidemann

A study was conducted to examine whether a chemical deposited by the female lace bug, Gargaphia solani Heidemann, during or shortly after oviposition is a signal for egg dumping. Results showed that egg dumping was more frequent when exposed to chemical extracts from young egg masses and was not stimulated by visual cues. Moreover, the ovipositional chemical used by egg-dumpers is not a way of relocating their eggs.