Donald A. Nordlund & W. J. Lewis. 1985. Response of females of the Braconid Parasitoid Microplitis demolitor to frass of larvae of the Noctuids, Heliothis zea and Trichoplusia ni and to 13-methylhentriacontane. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 38: 109-112.

ABSTRACT

Microplitis demolitor Wilkinson, a solitary larval parasitoid of several species of Noctuidae, has been imported into the United States from Australia. A closely related species, Microplitis croceipes (Cresson), is native to the United States. The host-selection behavior of M. demolitor females is similar to that of M. croceipes in that it is stimulated by kairomones (including I 3-methylhentriacontane) in the frass of Heliothis zea (Boddie) larvae, larval diet affects the kairomonal activity of the frass, and exposure to frass prior to release stimulates host-selection behavior. M. demolitor females also respond to frass from Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) larvae that had fed on Pink Eye Purple Hull Cowpea cotyledons.