Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2012
The chemical composition of plants is one of the major factors influencing their acceptability as food by insects. The interrelationships among these chemicals and between them and insect predators is very complex (Davis 1968). Some are inherently toxic to insects (Singleton and Kratzer 1969); others inhibit feeding (Hsiao and Fraenkel 1968); and still others act both as toxicants and as repellents (Bennett 1965). Apparently, no class of chemical compound is without representation in this regard.