Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Olfactory Responses of Parasitoid Apoanagyrus lopezi to Odor of Plants, Mealybugs, and Plant–Mealybug Complexes

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Apoanagyrus (Epidinocarsis) lopezi De Santis is an endoparasitoid used in the biological control of the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero in Africa. The response of naive and mated females of A. lopezi to odors from cassava plant (var. Zanaga), parasitized or unparasitized mealybugs, and plant–mealybug host complexes with or without feeding hosts was investigated in a Y-tube olfactometer. Dual-choice tests revealed that mealybug-infested plants and mealybug-damaged plants were the major sources of volatiles that attract female parasitoids to the microhabitat of its hosts. The emission of volatile chemicals appears not to be limited to the infested plant part but to occur systemically throughout the plant. On their own, unparasitized mealybugs were more attractive than uninfested plants or parasitized mealybugs alone. Parasitization of P. manihoti by A. lopezi decreased the response of parasitoids to mealybugs or mealybug–plant complexes. Plants infested with unparasitized hosts attracted more female parasitoids than plants infested with parasitized mealybugs. These results indicate that, in the long-range host-searching process, females of A. lopezi respond mainly to mealybug-induced synomones, and specific host-derived cues play a minor role.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Ayanru, D. K. G., and Sharma, V. C. 1985. Changes in total cyanide content of tissues from cassava plants infested by mites (Mononychellus tanajoa) and mealybugs (Phenacoccus manihoti). Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 12:35–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calatayud, P. A., Rhabe, Y., Delobel, B., Khuong-Huu, F., Tertuliano, M., and Le RÜ, B. 1994. Influence of secondary compounds in the phloem sap of cassava on expression of antibiosis towards the mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 72:47–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dicke, M., and Sabelis, M. W. 1988. Infochemical terminology: Based on cost-benefit analysis rather than origin of compounds? Funct. Ecol. 2:131–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dicke, M., Van Beek, T. A., Posthumus, M. A., Ben Dom, N., Van Bokhoven, H., and De Groot, A. E. 1990a. Isolation and identification of a volatile kairomone that affects acarine predator prey interactions. Involvement of host plant in its production. J. Chem. Ecol. 16:381–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dicke, M., Sabelis, M. W., Takabayashi, J., Bruin, J., and Posthumus, M. A. 1990b. Plant strategies of manipulating predator-prey interactions through allelochemicals: Prospects for application in pest control. J. Chem. Ecol. 16:3091–3118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dicke, M., Van Baarlen, P., Wessels, R., and DÜkman, H. 1993. Herbivory induces systemic production of plant volatiles that attract predators of the herbivore: Extraction of endogenous elicitor. J. Chem. Ecol. 19:581–599.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabres, G. 1981. Première quantification du phénomène de gradation des populations de Phenacoccus manihoti Matile Ferrero (Homo., Pseudococcidae) en République populaire du Congo. Agronomie 1:483–486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iziquel, Y. 1990. Le parasitisme de la cochenille du manioc par l'Encyrtidae Epidinocarisis lopezi. Un exemple d'interactions hôte-parasitoïde chez les insectes. Thesis. Rennes I University, France, 75 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langenbach, G. E. J., and Van Alphen, J. J. M. 1986. Searching behaviour of Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hymenoptera; Encyrtidae) on cassava: Effect of leaf topography and a kairomone produced by its host, the cassava mealybug (Phenacoccus manihoti). Med. Fac. Landbouww. Rijksuniv. Gent 51:1057–1065.

    Google Scholar 

  • LÖhr, B., Neuenschwander, P., Varela, A. M., and Santos, B. 1988. Interaction between the female parasitoid Epidinocarsis lopezi De Santis (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and its host the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). J. Appl. Entomol. 105:403–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadel, H., and Van Alphen, J. J. M. 1987. The role of host and host-plant odours in the attraction of a parasitoid, Epidinocarsis lopezi, to the habitat of its host, the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 45:181–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • NÉnon, J. P. 1992. Lutte biologique en Afrique contre la cochenille du manioc: Conséquences écologiques et agronomiques de l'introduction de l'Hyménoptère sud-américain Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hyménoptère Encyrtidae). Mem. Soc. R. Belge Entomol. 35:447–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neuenschwander, P., Hammond, W. N. O., Anjuonu, O., Gado, A., Echendu, N., Bokonon-GANTA, A. H., ALLOMASSO, R., and Okon, I. 1990. Biological control of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Hom., Pseudococcidae) by Epidinocarsis lopezi (Hym., Encyrtidae) in West Africa, as influenced by climate and soil. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 32:39–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Read, D. K., Feeney, P. P., and Boot, R. B. 1970. Habitat selection by the aphid parasite Diaretiella rapae (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). Can. Entomol. 102:1567–1578.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheehan, W., and Shelton, A. M. 1989. The role of experience in plant foraging by the aphid parasitoid Diaretiella rapae (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae). J. Insect Behav. 2:743–759.

    Google Scholar 

  • Souissi, R., and Le RÜ, B. 1997a. Effects of host plants on fecundity and development of Apoanagyrus lopezi, an endoparasitoid of the cassava mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 6:1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Souissi, R., and Le RÜ, B. 1997b. Influence of host plants on the ecobiological characteristics of Apoanagyrus lopezi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitoid of the cassava mealybug. Bull. Entomol. Res. 87:1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, S., Dicke, M., Vet, L. E. M., and Wanningen, R. 1992. Response of the braconid parasitoid Cotesia (= Apanteles) glomerata to volatile infochemicals: Effects of bioassay setup, parasitoid age and experience and barometric flux. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 63:163–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, S., Dicke, M., and Vet, L. E. M. 1993. Relative importance of infochemicals from first and second trophic level in long-range host location by the larval parasitoid Cotesia glomerata. J. Chem. Ecol. 19:47–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takabayashi, J., Dicke, M., and Posthumus, M. A. 1991. Variation in composition of predator-attracting allelochemicals emitted by herbivore-infested plants: Relative influence of plant and herbivore. Chemoecology 2:1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takabayashi, J., Dicke, M., and Posthumus, M. A. 1994. Volatile herbivore-induced terpenoids in plant-mite interactions: Variation caused by biotic and abiotic factors. J. Chem. Ecol. 20:1329–1354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takabayashi, J., Takahashi, S., Dicke, M., and Posthumus, M. A. 1995. Developmental stage of herbivore Pseudaletia separata affects production of herbivore-induced synomone by corn plants. J. Chem. Ecol. 21:273–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turlings, T. C. J., and Tumlinson, J. H. 1992. Systemic release of chemical signals by herbivore-injured corn. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 250:1251–1253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turlings, T. C. J., Tumlinson, J. H., and Lewis, W. J. 1990a. Exploitation of herbivore-induced plant odors by host-seeking parasitic wasps. Science 250:1251–1253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turlings, T. C. J., Scheepmaker, W. J. A., Vet, L. E. M., Tumlinson, J. H., and Lewis, W. J. 1990b. How contact foraging experiences affect the preferences for host-related odors in the larval parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson), a generalist larval parasitoid. J. Chem. Ecol. 16:1577–1589.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turlings, T. C. J., Tumlinson, J. H., and Lewis, W. J. 1991. Larval-damaged plants: Sources of volatile synomones that guide the parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris to the micro-habitat of its hosts. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 58:75–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Baaren, J. 1994. Capacité discriminatoire, installation et régulation du superparasitisme chez les Hyménptères parasitoïdes: Analyse expérimentale. Thesis. Rennes I University, France, 308 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vet, L. E. M., and Dicke, M. 1992. The ecology of infochemical use by natural enemies of herbivores in a tritrophic context. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37:141–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vet, L. E. M., WÄckers, F. L., and Dicke, M. 1991. How to hunt for hiding host: The reliability-detectability problem in foraging parasitoids. Neth. J. Zool. 41:202–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinson, S. B. 1976. Host location by insect parasitoids. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 21:109–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinson, S. B., and Williams, H. J. 1991. Host selection behavior of Campoletis sonorensis: A model system. Biol. Control 1:107–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weseloh, R. M. 1981. Host location by parasitoids, pp. 79–95, in D. A. Nordlund, R. L. Jones, and W. J. Lewis (eds.). Semiochemicals: Their Role in Pest Control. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickremasinghe, M. G. V., and Van Emden, H. F. 1992. Reactions of adult female parasitoids, particularly Aphidius rhopalosiphi, to volatile chemical cues from the host plants of their aphid prey. Physiol. Entomol. 17:297–304.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Ecobiologie des Insectes Parasitoïdes, Université de Rennes I, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France

    R. Souissi, J. P. Nénon & B. Le Rü

Authors
  1. R. Souissi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. P. Nénon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Le Rü
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Souissi, R., Nénon, J.P. & Le Rü, B. Olfactory Responses of Parasitoid Apoanagyrus lopezi to Odor of Plants, Mealybugs, and Plant–Mealybug Complexes. J Chem Ecol 24, 37–48 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022332711331

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022332711331

Search

Navigation