BioControl (2003) 48, 169-175

Johannes L.M. Steidle and Judith Reinhard (2003)
Low humidity as a cue for habitat preference in the parasitoid Lariophagus distinguendus
BioControl 48 (2), 169-175
Abstract: The larval and pupal parasitoid Lariophagus distinguendus Förster (Pteromalidae) is a potential candidate for the biological control of the granary weevil Sitophilus granarius L. and other stored product pests that mostly prefer the dry conditions of a storage environment. To predict whether parasitoids will remain within the dry storage environment after release, experiments with L. distinguendus were performed in a humidity gradient chamber. To our knowledge, this is the first time that humidity preference was examined directly for a parasitoid species. Regardless of experience, parasitoids significantly preferred drier areas in the order 32.5% (most preferred), 53%, 75.5%, and 97.5% r.h. (least preferred). This indicates that humidity is used as cue for host habitat preference. When used as natural enemy against stored product pests this preference probably will retain L. distinguendus within the storage environment after their release.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Johannes L.M. Steidle

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitophilus granarius
Lariophagus distinguendus (parasitoid)	Sitophilus granarius