Journal of Applied Entomology (2017) 141, 620-629

N.B. Saraiva, F. Prezoto, M. das G. Fonseca, M.C. Blassioli-Moraes, M. Borges, R.A. Laumann and A.M. Auad (2017)
The social wasp Polybia fastidiosuscula Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) uses herbivore-induced maize plant volatiles to locate its prey
Journal of Applied Entomology 141 (8), 620-629
Abstract: Social wasps in the Polybia genus are important for use as pest-control agents in agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to investigate the behavioural responses of Polybia fastidiosuscula Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) to volatiles from maize, both constitutive volatiles and those induced by the herbivory of Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). To assess the behavioural response of P. fastidiosuscula to S. frugiperda larvae, undamaged plants, S. frugiperda-damaged plants, mechanically damaged plants, mechanically damaged plants plus regurgitant from larvae and extracts from various treatments, bioassays were conducted in a Y-olfactometer. In addition, the volatiles from plants subjected to different treatments were collected via aeration, and they were quantified and identified. The wasps showed a greater preference for plants with damage induced either by larval feeding or by being mechanically damaged plus regurgitant than for undamaged plants or either larvae alone or mechanically damaged plants. Wasps were more attracted to extracts from plants + S. frugiperda larvae and to an extract from mechanically damaged plants + the regurgitant of larvae compared to hexane. The primary compounds induced by herbivory for 5–6 h after the beginning of the damage or regurgitant treatment were identified as α-pinene, ß-myrcene, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, limonene, (E)-ocimene, linalool, DMNT, (E)-ß-farnesene, TMTT and indole. The results presented here show that the social wasp P. fastidiosuscula uses herbivore-induced plant volatiles from maize to locate its prey.
(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): Raúl Alberto Laumann, Maria Carolina Blassioli-Moraes, Miguel Borges, Alexander M. Auad

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Spodoptera frugiperda	Maize/corn (Zea mays)
Polybia fastidiosuscula (predator)	Spodoptera frugiperda	Maize/corn (Zea mays)