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Impact of larval‐extract (kairomone) of Ephestia kuehniella Zell. (Lep., Pyralidae), on the behaviour of the parasitoid Bracon hebetor Say. (Hym., Braconidae)
Author(s) -
Shonouda M. L.,
Nasr F. N.
Publication year - 1998
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 - 10.1111/j.1439-0418.1998.tb01457.x
Subject(s) - braconidae , kairomone , parasitoid , biology , pyralidae , parasitism , host (biology) , larva , zoology , hymenoptera , lepidoptera genitalia , botany , toxicology , ecology
The ectoparasitoid females Bracon hebetor Say., a braconid parasitoid of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia keuhniella Zell. larvae, responded to hexane extract (having kairomone) of the host by intensifying their searching and oviposition behaviours. After application of host‐extract in Petri dishes containing host larvae, the parasitoid females showed the following differences in responses: (1) they found the host larvae earlier and the time of location was significantly decreased from control; (2) they retained much longer with the host larvae and the mean retention time increased significantly as compared to control; (3) the parasitization rate increased significantly; and (4) the experienced females doubled the rate of parasitism compared to the inexperienced ones. The later response could be attributed to the learning and habituating behaviours.