Volatile‐mediated oviposition preference for healthy over root‐infested plants by the European corn borer

Abstract The selection of oviposition sites by female moths is crucial in shaping their progeny performance and survival, and consequently in determining insect fitness. Selecting suitable plants that promote the performance of the progeny is referred to as the Preference−Performance hypothesis (or ‘mother‐knows‐best’). While root infestation generally reduces the performance of leaf herbivores, little is known about its impact on female oviposition. We investigated whether maize root infestation by the Western corn rootworm (WCR) affects the oviposition preference and larval performance of the European corn borer (ECB). ECB females used leaf volatiles to select healthy plants over WCR‐infested plants. Undecane, a compound absent from the volatile bouquet of healthy plants, was the sole compound to be upregulated upon root infestation and acted as a repellent for first oviposition. ECB larvae yet performed better on plants infested below‐ground than on healthy plants, suggesting an example of ‘bad motherhood’. The increased ECB performance on WCR‐infested plants was mirrored by an increased leaf consumption, and no changes in the plant primary or secondary metabolism were detected. Understanding plant‐mediated interactions between above‐ and below‐ground herbivores may help to predict oviposition decisions, and ultimately, to manage pest outbreaks in the field.