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How do wind velocity and light intensity influence host‐location success in Cotesia glomerata (Hym., Braconidae)?
Author(s) -
Xianfeng Gu,
Dorn
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0418.2001.00520.x
Subject(s) - braconidae , host (biology) , biology , parasitoid , light intensity , intensity (physics) , ecology , atmospheric sciences , hymenoptera , physics , optics
Wind and light are major climatic factors which affect host‐location process in parasitoids, but these environmental effects have not been studied thoroughly. Wind‐tunnel experiments were designed to dissect how changes in wind velocity and light intensity influence flight initiation, flight orientation and host‐searching efficiency in Cotesia glomerata . This study uncovers the influences of changes in wind velocity and light intensity on different phases of host‐location process in the parasitoid. These results suggest that a cloudy and/or windy weather may reduce the success of host location by C. glomerata because such conditions suppress flight initiation, cause failure to orientate flights to the herbivore‐infested plant and hamper host‐searching activity on the plant.