Journal of Insect Behavior (2005) 18, 577-591

Michel Cournoyer and Guy Boivin (2005)
Short distance cues used by the adult parasitoid Microctonus hyperodae Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Euphorinae) for host selection of a novel host Listronotus oregonensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Journal of Insect Behavior 18 (4), 577-591
Abstract: Insect parasitoids use host kairomone to detect their hosts. However, in parasitoid species that attack adult hosts, the mobility of adult insect may mean that the host can move away for kairomone sources. The effect of Listronotus oregonensis LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adult sex, feces and movement on host selection behavior by Microctonus hyperodae Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae; Euphorinae) females was evaluated in the laboratory. We hypothesized that, in addition of using host kairomones, parasitoids of adult stage should use host movement for host selection. The sex of L. oregonensis did not affect the host selection behavior of M. hyperodae. However, host feces decreased the number of weevil antennations done by M. hyperodae. Microctonus hyperodae stopped less frequently near immobile L. oregonensis than near walking ones and these latter were frequently pursued by M. hyperodae. Host movement was the stimulus that elicited oviposition by M. hyperodae. The adaptive implications of these results are discussed.
(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): Guy Boivin

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Listronotus oregonensis
Microctonus hyperodae (parasitoid)	Listronotus oregonensis