Bulletin of Insectology (2022) 75, 47-53

Paloma Guazzelli della Giustina, Luiza Rodrigues Redaelli, Josué Sant'Ana and Natália Alves Leite (2022)
Influence of Grapholita molesta semiochemicals on chemotaxis, parasitism, and learning ability of Trichogramma pretiosum
Bulletin of Insectology 75 (1), 47-53
Abstract: Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera Trichogrammatidae) is known to use a wide range of chemical cues to locate its hosts. Its presence in areas where mating disruption control has been used for Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae) has led to questions about the effect of these semiochemicals on the behaviour of this parasitoid. Therefore, we evaluated the chemotactic responses and parasitism of T. pretiosum at different ages to G. molesta sex pheromone, as well as the ability of this parasitoid to learn and to recognize G. molesta eggs volatiles. Chemotaxis of 24, 48, 72, and 96 h-old T. pretiosum mated males and females was recorded using an olfactometer, contrasting the synthetic sex pheromone blend (Z-8-dodecenyl acetate, E-8-dodecenyl acetate, and Z-8-dodecenol - 10 µl at 0.001%) versus hexane. We also observed the response of parasitoids (females with and without experience on the host eggs) to G. molesta rinsed and unrinsed eggs (olfactometry and parasitism). Our results evidenced that T. pretiosum females are able to recognize G. molesta sex pheromone and also that learning process on G. molesta eggs increases their chemotactic response and parasitism in unrinsed eggs. Understanding the interactions between T. pretiosum and G. molesta is the first step to design a rational combination among different sustainable pest control techniques.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Grapholita molesta		Brazil (south)
Trichogramma pretiosum (parasitoid)	Grapholita molesta		Brazil (south)