Neotropical Entomology (2018) 47, 689-697

R. Tognon, J. Sant'Ana, L.R. Redaelli and A.L. Meyer (2018)
Is it possible to manipulate Scelionidae wasps' preference to a target host?
Neotropical Entomology 47 (5), 689-697
Abstract: Parasitoid host selection is mainly mediated by chemical cues, which can be adjusted by experience, changing their innate behavior. Therefore, this study evaluated if immature experience (pre-imaginal conditioning) on eggs and volatiles from different host eggs has influence on parasitism and chemotaxic behavior of Telenomus podisi Ashmead and/or Trissolcus basalis Wollaston (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Both wasp species were submitted to a multiple-choice parasitism test among Euschistus heros (Fabricius), Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), and Nezara viridula L. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) egg masses. Eggs from these three stink bugs were equally offered to female parasitoids. After that, adults which emerged from each host were also exposed to parasitism in a multiple-choice test for up to an additional generation. Moreover, in olfactometer "Y," the behavior of innate and experienced T. podisi females to volatiles from hosts' egg extracts was tested, to study their learning and memory ability. The original host had influence on T. podisi parasitism; however, T. basalis always parasitized more N. viridula eggs independently of its last rearing host. Innate T. podisi females responded positively to E. heros and P. guildinii egg volatiles, but this behavior was not observed in N. viridula. When T. podisi females were experienced on egg volatiles from a new host, they showed significant learning and memory ability for the specific host volatile for, at least, 24 h. Experienced wasps responded positively to N. viridula and through this result we have evidences about the possibility to manipulate wasp's preferences to a specific target host.
(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): Roberta Tognon, Luiza R. Redaelli

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
resistance to pesticides

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Nezara viridula
	Euschistus heros
	Piezodorus guildinii
Trissolcus basalis (parasitoid)	Nezara viridula
Telenomus podisi (parasitoid)	Euschistus heros
Telenomus podisi (parasitoid)	Piezodorus guildinii