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The parasitic fly Nemorilla maculosa exploits host‐plant volatiles to locate the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata
Author(s) -
Agbessenou Ayaovi,
Tounou Agbéko Kodjo,
Dan Elie Ayitondji,
Dati Benjamin,
Agboton Cyriaque,
Ramasamy Srinivasan,
Pittendrigh Barry Robert,
Tamò Manuele
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1111/eea.12703
Subject(s) - olfactometer , biology , host (biology) , pest analysis , botany , horticulture , biological pest control , odor , larva , ecology , neuroscience
N emorilla maculosa M eigen ( D iptera: T achinidae) is a solitary endoparasitoid of the legume pod borer, M aruca vitrata F abricius ( L epidoptera: C rambidae), a key pest of cowpea, V igna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ( F abaceae) in A frica. A colony of N . maculosa , introduced for experimental purposes from T aiwan to the laboratories of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ( IITA ) in Benin, was used for our studies. Olfactory reponses of N . maculosa to leaves of infested or uninfested cowpea and yellow peabush, S esbania cannabina ( R etz.) Pers. ( F abaceae), and to M . vitrata larvae were evaluated in a four‐arm olfactometer. For all combinations of odor sources, responses between naïve and oviposition‐experienced female flies did not differ. N emorilla maculosa females were attracted by odors from uninfested leaves of yellow peabush and flowers of cowpea when compared with clean air, and they were attracted to plants damaged by M . vitrata with larvae removed. However, the female fly did not discriminate between odors from infested and uninfested plants. The parasitic fly N . maculosa proved well able to use volatile compounds from various host plants (peabush and cowpea) to locate its host, with a more pronounced attraction by the combination of host larvae and infested host plant parts. These findings are discussed in light of the prospective use of N . maculosa as a biological control agent against the legume pod borer.