Oviposition stimulant of Papilio xuthus, a Citrus-feeding swallowtail butterfly.

Methanol extracts of fresh leaves of Citrus plants induce oviposition behavior by females of the Cyrils-feeding swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus L. One of the oviposition stimulants was isolated from an extract of Citrus unshiu Marc, and identified as 6, 8-di-C-β-D-glucopyranosylapigenin. The compound was inactive alone, but elicited oviposition behavior when mixed with another component which has not yet been identified.