Effects of Volatiles from Maruca vitrata Larvae and Caterpillar-Infested Flowers of Their Host Plant Vigna unguiculata on the Foraging Behavior of the Parasitoid Apanteles taragamae

• DOI: 10.1007/s10886-010-9859-2
• Publication Date: 2010-09-14T10:37:09Z
• Authors: Elie A. Dannon; Manuele Tamò; Arnold Van Huis; Marcel Dicke
• Keywords: Olfactometer; Apanteles

The parasitoid wasp Apanteles taragamae is a promising candidate for the biological control of legume pod borer Maruca vitrata, which recently has been introduced into Benin. effects volatiles from cowpea and peabush flowers vitrata larvae on host selection behavior were investigated under laboratory conditions by using Y-tube olfactometer. Naïve oviposition-experienced female wasps given choice between several odor sources that included (1) uninfested, (2) vitrata-infested, (3) mechanically damaged flowers, as well (4) stem portions plants carrying leaves (5) healthy M. larvae, moribund (6), live (7) virus-infected larvae. Responses naïve did not differ any source combinations. Wasps significantly attracted to floral produced had infested with removed. females also vitrata-infested after removal both their feces. Female discriminated previously flowers. Uninfested only received rewarding experience (i.e. parasitization two feeding flowers) before olfactometer test. uninfested peabush. Moreover, they but when latter moribund. Our data show that, similarly what extensively reported foliar volatiles, emit parasitoid-attracting in response being an herbivore.