Environmental Entomology (1983) 12, 1312-1314

A.C. Thompson, J.P. Roth and E.G. King (1983)
Larviposition kairomone of the tachinid Lixophaga diatraeae
Environmental Entomology 12 (5), 1312-1314
Abstract: The tachinid Lixophaga diatraeae (Townsend) senses the larviposition host (sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis) frass by tarsi rather than by antennae. Methanol extraction of the host larvae frass, followed by column and thin-layer chromatography, indicated activity in the polar non-volatile components. Similar extraction of sugarcane stalk produced an equally active larviposition stimulant having the same chromatographic properties as the frass extract. The active fractions of both frass and sugarcane did not contain sterols, reactive unsaturation, or protein. Qualitative tests showed the presence of phenols, alcohols, and carbohydrates. The tachinid was equally active to a dichloromethane extract of paraffin wax and standard hydrocarbons alone and in combination.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

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.
	Diatraea saccharalis	Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)
Lixophaga diatraeae (parasitoid)	Diatraea saccharalis	Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)