Larval-damaged plants - source of volatile synomones that guide the parasitoid cotesia-marginiventris to the microhabitat of its hosts
Author(s)
Tumlinson, James H
Eller, Fred J
Lewis, W Joe
Date issued
1991
In
Entomologia Experimentalis Et Applicata
Vol
1
No
58
From page
75
To page
82
Subjects
HYMENOPTERA BRACONIDAE COTESIA-MARGINIVENTRIS PARASITOID HOST SEARCHING ALLELOCHEMICALS PLANT SYNOMONES LEAF DAMAGE FRASS FLIGHT TUNNEL CAMPOLETIS-SONORENSIS HYMENOPTERA MICROPLITIS-CROCEIPES CRESSON AIRBORNE SEMIOCHEMICALS SPODOPTERA-FRUGIPERDA FLIGHT BEHAVIOR FALL ARMYWORM BRACONIDAE HELIOTHIS ICHNEUMONIDAE LEPIDOPTERA
Abstract
Single and dual choice tests in a flight tunnel revealed that plants damaged by host larvae are the main source of the volatiles that attract females of the parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) to the microhabitat of its hosts. Frass and host larvae, the other two major components of a complete plant-host complex, were significantly less attractive than the damaged seedlings; frass alone was more attractive than larvae alone. However, a recombination of larvae with the damaged seedlings was significantly more attractive than the damaged leaves alone, or damaged leaves with frass. This was due to the additional feeding damage done by the larvae. The role of plants in the host-finding behaviour of parasitoids is discussed.
Publication type
journal article