Environmental Entomology (1983) 12, 1114-1119

M.R. Strand and S.B. Vinson (1983)
Factors affecting host recognition and acceptance in the egg parasitoid Telenomus heliothidis (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)
Environmental Entomology 12 (4), 1114-1119
Abstract: The solitary egg parasitoid Telenomus heliothidis Ashmead recognized its host, the eggs of Heliothis virescens (F.), (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), by both chemical and physical cues. T. heliothidis only accepted hosts between 0.50 and 0.63 mm in diameter, with spherical hosts preferred to spheroidal hosts. Color was not a critical factor in host recognition by T. heliothidis. A minimal area of the host had to be coated by a recognition kairomone to be accepted even if the host were properly shaped. Recognition of both host shape and odor appeared to be by the antennae. T. heliothidis showed a preference for younger host eggs. This preference was attributed to the change in shape of older H. virescens eggs.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): S. Bradleigh Vinson, Michael R. Strand

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.
	Heliothis virescens
Telenomus heliothidis (parasitoid)	Heliothis virescens