Chemical communication between males and females of a pupal parasitoid Diapetimorpha introita (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

• Published in: Annals of the Entomological Society of America Vol. 91; no. 5; pp. 748 - 753
• Main Authors: Jewett, D.K. (Insect Biology and Population Management Research Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Tifton, GA.), Carpenter, J.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford University Press 01-09-1998; Entomological Society of America
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ANIMALS; Diapetimorpha introita; ELECTROANTENNOGRAMS; ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY; EXTRACTS; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; ICHNEUMONIDAE; PARASITES; PARASITOIDS; PEST INSECTS; Protozoa. Invertebrata; SEX ATTRACTANTS; SEX PHEROMONES; SPODOPTERA EXIGUA; SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA; TRAPS; Spodoptera frugiperda; Diapetimorpha introita; sex attractant; pheromone; semiochemical; Spodoptera exigua; Chemical communication; Animal communication; Sex pheromone; Insecta; Intersex relation; Electroantennography; Pest; Parasitoid; Entomophagous; Arthropoda; Lepidoptera; Nymph; Noctuidae; Ichneumonidae; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; Semiochemicals
• ISSN: 0013-8746; 1938-2901
• DOI: 10.1093/aesa/91.5.748

Data supporting chemically mediated communication between males and females of a pupal parasitoid Diapetimorpha introita (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were gathered by field trapping, behavioral bioassays, and electroantennography. Responses of male antennae to live females or their extract were greater than responses to live males or their extract. Responses to a control were negligible. Responses of female antennae to live insects or a control were the same. Responses to male or female extracts also were the same, but greater than responses to a control. Logarithmic serial dilutions of the female whole-body extract applied to male antennae revealed a dose-response curve with a quadratic fit. Responses of male and female antennae to extracts of tagmata were consistent with responses to whole-body extracts, but a more specific site associated with electrophysiologically active materials was not apparent. In behavioral bioassays and in the field, more males were caught in traps baited with live females than in traps baited with live males or a control. None of the extracts attracted males in the bioassay, and no females were caught in traps in the field.