Journal of Insect Behavior (1998) 11, 221-234

V. Kerguelen and R.T. Carde (1998)
Flight toward a learned odor and factors inducing landing of female Brachymeria intermedia (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), a parasitoid of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)
Journal of Insect Behavior 11 (2), 221-234
Abstract: Through a single oviposition experience in the presence of vanilla odor, female Brachymeria intermedia were conditioned to fly toward a source of vanilla odor in a wind tunnel. Conditioning was an associative process, and wasps were able to fly toward odor sources at much lower doses than the dose used in conditioning. Furthermore, upon approaching vanilla-scented paper rolls hung on a vertical cylinder, conditioned wasps landed on them readily, whereas few wasps landed on real pupae. However, more wasps reached pupae or pupal cases than white paper rolls. Visual and olfactory cues appeared to mediate the foraging behavior of wasps in conflicting ways. Therefore, the extent to which olfactory learning mediates foraging success in this species remains unresolved.
(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): Ring T. Cardé

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Lymantria dispar
Brachymeria tibialis (parasitoid)	Lymantria dispar