Noldus L.P.P.J., W.J. Lewis, and J.H. Tumlinson. 1990. Beneficial Arthropod Behavior Mediated By Airborne Semiochemicals: IX. Differential response of Trichogramma pretiosum, an egg parasitoid of Heliothis zea, to various olfactory cues. J. Chem. Ecol. 16: 3531-1544.
ABSTRACT

The behavior of Trichoramma pretiosum Nixon wasps when exposed to different olfactory cues was studied in a wind tunnel. Compared to clean air, the sex pheromone of its host heliothis zea (Boddie) increased wasp residence times, walking times, and path lengths on a platform and decreased walking velocity. If wasps were released on top of a glass rod above a platform, the odor caused the wasps to land shortly after takeoff. In addition, a clear dose effect with regard to total residence and walking times was found. These responses wee not elicited by three dosages of the sex pheromone of Spoddoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) or by a blend of saturated acetates. These results correspondd with the observation that Heliothis zea is a common field host of T. pretiosum, whereas eggs of S. frugiperda are rarely attacked by this parasitoid.