Journal of Insect Behavior (2003) 16, 667-678
Komi Agboka, Agbeko Kodjo Tounou, Hans-Michael Poehling, Katharina Raupach and Christian Borgemeister (2003)
Searching and oviposition behavior of Anagrus atomus L. (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) on four host plants of its host, the green leafhopper Empoasca decipiens Paoli (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)
Journal of Insect Behavior 16 (5), 667-678
Abstract: Anagrus atomus L. is an important egg parasitoid of the green leafhopper Empoasca decipiens Paoli. In this study the ability of the parasitoid to locate and parasitize its host was investigated on four host plants, i.e., broad beans (Vicia faba L.), sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), and French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). For each plant species, the behavior of the parasitoid was observed on E. decipiens infested and noninfested plants. Searching and oviposition behavior were characterized by drumming, probing, and resting. Parasitoids spent significantly less time on non-infested than infested plants, 274.5 and 875.7 s, respectively, and no probing behavior was observed on non-infested plants. Frequency of resting behavior was significantly greater on non-infested than on infested plants. Total foraging time was significantly longer on infested than on non-infested plants, indicating that A. atomus females can efficiently discriminate between leaves with and without infestation. Parasitism of A. atomus was influenced by parasitoid density, with the highest parasitism rate (64.0%) obtained at a density of 10 A. atomus females/0.1356 m2 but the number of parasitized eggs per female and the searching efficiency decreased with increasing parasitoid density.
(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): Hans-Michael Poehling, Christian Borgemeister, Komi Agboka
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment/habitat manipulation
