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Host location and suitability of the armyworm larvae of Mythimna unipuncta for the tachinid parasitoid Exorista larvarum

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Abstract

This work evaluates the efficiency of Exorista larvarum (L.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) in localizing and parasitizing the larvae of the noctuid moth Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in laboratory conditions, in a wind tunnel and in PVC cages. The most important cue in host localization by E. larvarum females was host-induced plant volatiles. Visual cues, natural maize volatiles and artificially damaged plants were less efficient for host localization. Mortality in M. unipuncta larvae on which E. larvarum females laid eggs was high. This finding indicates that E. larvarum could effectively contribute to lowering the population size of M. unipuncta, even if only few parasitoids successfully complete their development in the host. Further studies with other possible hosts must be done to apply E. larvarum successfully against M. unipuncta larvae in maize fields.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Anna Zucca for her valuable comments on the manuscript. The Alma Mater Studiorum Università degli Studi di Bologna supported Laura Depalo’s stage at the Departament de Producció Vegetal i Ciència Forestal of the University of Lleida via the funds of the PhD program and the “Marco Polo” project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facoltà di Agraria, Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 42, 40127, Bologna, Italy

    Laura Depalo & Maria Luisa Dindo

  2. Centre UdL–IRTA, Lleida University, Av, Al. Rovira Roure 191, 25198, Lleida, Spain

    Matilde Eizaguirre

Authors
  1. Laura Depalo
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  2. Maria Luisa Dindo
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  3. Matilde Eizaguirre
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Correspondence to Laura Depalo.

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Handling Editor: Torsten Meiners

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Depalo, L., Dindo, M.L. & Eizaguirre, M. Host location and suitability of the armyworm larvae of Mythimna unipuncta for the tachinid parasitoid Exorista larvarum . BioControl 57, 471–479 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-011-9422-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-011-9422-2

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