Study on Volatile Components of Butterfly Nectar Plants and Host Plants

Abstract

Volatile components of butterfly nectar plants, Lantana camara L., Vitex trifolia L. and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. and host plants, Cleome spinosa L., Dregea volubilis (Linn. f.) Benth. ex Hook. f. and Parsonsia laevigata (Moon) Alston, were analyzed by automatic thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry process (ATD-GC-MS). Of the three nectar plants, the most dominant components were terpenes, which total content exceeded 60 %, together with eucalyptol with higher content. Also there were some hydrocarbons, alcohols and aromatic compounds detected in the three nectar plants. Host plant volatiles presented a different composition. C. Spinosa volatiles were mainly composed of terpenoids (36.35 %), aldehydes (29.07 %), ethers (10.48 %) and acids (9.15 %). D. volubilis volatile compounds were mainly esters (21.03 %), next were terpenoids (19.53 %). P. laevigata volatiles were composed mainly of aldehydes (32.2 %) and esters (19.41 %).