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Behavioral and physiological responses of Diaeretiella rapae to semiochemicals
Author(s) -
Vaughn T. T.,
Antolin M. F.,
Bjostad L. B.
Publication year - 1996
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/j.1570-7458.1996.tb00781.x
Subject(s) - biology , aphid , braconidae , mating , zoology , population , hymenoptera , parasitoid , foraging , ecology , botany , demography , sociology
Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizes many aphid species, including cabbage aphids on cruciferous crops and Russian wheat aphids on cereal crops. We investigated the olfactory perception of D. rapae to semiochemicals that may be encountered in these two environments while searching for hosts or for mates. We conducted electroantennogram and flight‐tunnel experiments on male and female D. rapae and found marked differences between sexes. Cruciferous volatiles elicited physiological and behavioral responses by females but not by males. Males and females responded similarly to (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, a component of green‐leaf volatiles, in both electroantennogram and flight‐tunnel assays. Female wasps responded similarly regardless of prior oviposition experience or population origin. Likewise, mating history and aphid presence did not increase responsiveness toward these semiochemicals.