Beneficial arthropod behavior mediated by airborne semiochemicals. IX. Differential response ofTrichogramma pretiosum, an egg parasitoid ofHeliothis zea, to various olfactory cues.

The behavior ofTrichogramma pretiosum Nixon wasps when exposed to different olfactory cues was studied in a wind tunnel. Compared to clean air, the sex pheromone of its hostHeliothis 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 were not elicited by three dosages of the sex pheromone ofSpodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) or by a blend of saturated acetates. These results correspond with the observation thatH. zea is a common field host ofT. pretiosum, whereas eggs ofS. frugiperda are rarely attacked by this parasitoid.