The foraging responses of 1–2-day-old naïve female Platygaster demades to odors of apple and pear foliage and host insect eggs were measured. The host origin of P. demades had no effect on the parasitoids’ longevity, host preference, or foraging behavior. Four distinct behaviors related to oviposition were identified. In choice experiments, more female parasitoids responded to apple foliage with no midge eggs than to midge eggs alone. In a Y-tube olfactometer, parasitoids preferred the plant cues to clean air, and responded equally to both apple and pear odors. The results indicate that P. demades utilizes plant cues to locate the habitat of its host and then searches for host eggs to parasitize.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agelopoulos, N. G., and Keller, M. A. (1994). Plant-natural enemy association in the tritrophic system, Cotesia rubecula-Pieris rapae-brassiceae (Cruciferae): I. sources of infochemicals. J. Chem. Ecol. 20(7): 1725–1748.
Berry, J. A., and Walker, J. T. S. (1989). Dasineura pyri (Bouché), pear leafcurling midge and Dasineura mali (Kieffer), apple leafcurling midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). In Cameron, P. J., Hill, R. L., Bain, J., and Thomas, W. P. (eds.), A Review of Biological Control of Invertebrate Pests and Weeds in New Zealand 1874 to 1987. Technical communication, CAB International Institute of Biological Control 10, CAB International, Wallingford, UK, pp. 171–175, 424.
Clausen, C. P. (1940). Entomophagous Insects Statement of Responsibility, McGraw-Hill, New York, p. 688.
Dumbleton, L. J. (1935). Note on pear midge parasite. N.Z. J. Sci. Tech. 16: 163–164.
Gagne, R. J., and Harris, M. O. (1998). The distinction between Dasineura spp. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) from apple and pear. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington 100(3): 445–448.
Harris, M. O., Galanihe, L. D., and Sandnayake, M. (1999). Adult emergence and reproductive behavior of the leafcurling midge Dasineura mali (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 92(5): 748–757.
Hérard, F., Keller, M. A., Lewis, W. J., and Tumlinson, J. M. (1988). Influence of host diet on host-oriented flight chamber responses of Microplitis demolitor Wilkinson. J. Chem. Ecol. 14: 1597–1606.
Jeon, M., Lee, B., and Ko, J. (1985). Ecology of Platygaster matsutama and Inostemma seoulis (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), egg-larval parasites of the pine needle gall midge, Thecodiplosis japonensis (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae). Esakia 23: 131–143.
Lo Pinto, M., Wajnberg, E., Colazza, S., Curty, C., and Fauvergue, X. (2004). Olfactory response of two aphid parasitoids, Lysiphlebus testaceipes and Aphidius colemani, to aphid-infested plants from a distance. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 110: 159–164.
Monge, J. P., and Cortesero, A. M. (1996). Tritrophic interactions among larval parasitoids, bruchids and Leguminosae seeds; influence of pre- and post-emergence learning on parasitoids' response to host and host-plant cues. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 80: 293–296.
Powell, W., Pennacchio, F., Poppy, G. M., and Tremblay, E. (1998). Strategies involved in the location of hosts by the parasitoid Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae). Biol. Cont. 11: 104–112.
Shaw, P. W., and Wallis, D. R. (2004). Lack of synchrony between apple leafcurling midge (Dasineura mali) and its parasitoid, Platygaster demades, limits biological control. In 12th International Congress of Entomology, Brisbane, Australia.
Shaw, P. W., Wallis, D. R., and Rogers, D. J. (2003). The impact of early season insecticides on biological control of apple leaf curling midge (Dasineura mali). In Proceedings of the 56th New Zealand Plant Protection Conference, pp. 164–167.
Todd, D. H. (1956). A preliminary account of Dasyneura mali Kieffer (Cecidomyidae: Dipt.), and an associated hymenopterous parasite in New Zealand. N. Z. J. Sci. Tech. 37: 462–464.
Todd, D. H. (1959). The apple leaf-curling midge, Dasyneura mali Kieffer, seasonal history, varietal susceptibility and parasitism 1955–1958. N. Z. J. Agric. Res. 2: 859–869.
Tomkins, A. R., Wilson, D. J., Hutchings, S. O., and June, S. (1994). A survey of apple leafcurling midge (Dasineura mali) management in Waikato orchards. In Proceedings of the 47th New Zealand Plant Protection Conference, pp. 346–349.
Tomkins, A. R., Wilson, D. J., Thompson, C., Bradley, S., Cole, L., Shaw, P., Gibb, A., Suckling, D. M., Marshall, R., and Wearing, C. H. (2000). Emergence of apple leafcurling midge (Dasineura mali) and its parasitoid (Platygaster demades). In Proceedings of the 53rd New Zealand Plant Protection Conference, pp. 179–184.
Vet, L. E. M., Lewis, W. J., and Dicke, M. (1992). Ecology of infochemical use by natural enemies in a trophic context. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37: 141–172.
Acknowledgments
Authors wish to thank Mr Patrick Connolly for statistical analysis, Mr Peter Shaw and Dr Louise Malone for their valuable comments on the manuscript and Meulasi Sandanayaka for laboratory assistance. This work was funded by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sandanayaka, W.R.M., Charles, J.G. Host Location and Ovipositional Behavior of Platygaster demades Walker (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), an Egg Parasitoid of Apple and Pear Leaf Curling Midges. J Insect Behav 19, 99–113 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-005-9001-4
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-005-9001-4