Lewis W.J. and W.R. Martin, JR. 1990. SEMIOCHEMICALS FOR USE WITH PARASITOIDS: STATUS AND FUTURE. J. of Chem. Ecology. 16:

ABSTRACT

Allelo chemicals are known to serve important roles at all steps in
the host-searching sequence of parasitoids. We discuss the various roles of
these allelo chemicals and the type of information needed to develop their use
in pest control, which to date has been very limited. Rapid advancements are
being made with respect to airborne chemicals and longer-range foraging
behavior. Moreover, recent discoveries have shown that genetic diversity in
parasitoid populations and phenotypic plasticity of individuals, together with
their physiological state, often result in substantial varations in the response
to chemical cues. Successful application of semio chemical-parasitoid sys-
tems will require management of these intrinsic parasitoid varables as well
as management of the foraging environment. We illustrate emerging tech-
nology for such an application. For the immediate future, the development
of this technology will allow us to: (I) define the genetic and phenotypic
foraging profiles important to consistent and efficient parasitoid foraging, and
(2) establish the proper propagation and release procedures and monitoring
bioassays necessary to ensure appropriate behavioral and physiological qual-
ities of released organisms. For the long term, we envision technology for
comprehensively manipulating the pest/crop environment in ways that would
provide foraging stimuli and other needs important to retention and efficiency
of parasitoids.