Eur. J. Entomol. 103 (2): 311-318, 2006 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2006.040

Kairomone involvement in the host specificity of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Gianandrea SALERNO1, Eric CONTI1, Ezio PERI2, Stefano COLAZZA2, Ferdinando BIN1
1 D.S.A.A. - Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Entomology, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 06121 Perugia, Italy; e-mail: salerno@unipg.it
2 Dep. S.En.Fi.Mi.Zo., University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 13, 90128 Palermo, Italy

This paper reports the results of a comparative laboratory analysis of the behavioural responses of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) to semiochemical cues from four species of pentatomid bugs, Nezara viridula (L.), Eurydema ventrale Klt., Murgantia histrionica Hahn. and Graphosoma semipunctatum F. (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). In a Y-tube olfactometer, T. basalis was attracted by volatile chemicals from N. viridula, but not from other pentatomid species. In an open arena, the parasitoid reacted to chemical trails left on filter paper by all the species but most intensely to those left by N. viridula. However, upon encountering pentatomid eggs, T. basalis examined more intensely and probed more frequently the eggs of G. semipunctatum than those of the other species. The parasitoid only parasitized and emerged from eggs of G. semipunctatum and N. viridula; those of the other species were unsuitable. Therefore N. viridula is semiochemically confirmed to be a coevolved host (old association) of T. basalis, whereas G. semipunctatum may be a potential non-coevolved host (new association). The utility of these tests for defining a parasitoids' host specificity and in assessing the risk of non-target effects in biological control is discussed.

Keywords: Scelionidae, Trissolcus basalis, egg parasitoid, Pentatomidae, kairomone, host selection, host specificity

Received: May 24, 2005; Revised: November 18, 2005; Accepted: November 18, 2005; Published: April 6, 2006  Show citation

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SALERNO, G., CONTI, E., PERI, E., COLAZZA, S., & BIN, F. (2006). Kairomone involvement in the host specificity of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). EJE, 103(2), 311-318. doi: 10.14411/eje.2006.040
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