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Updated: May 23, 2026
05:25
A Wind Tunnel for Odor Mediated Insect Behavioural Assays
Published on: November 30, 2018
Host suitability affects odor association in Cotesia marginiventris: implications in generalist parasitoid
Christina M Harris1, John R Ruberson, Robert Meagher
1Chemical Ecology Laboratory, Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Journal of Chemical Ecology
|March 23, 2012
Summary
Parasitoid wasps Cotesia marginiventris learn to distinguish between host caterpillars Spodoptera exigua and Trichoplusia ni based on plant volatiles. However, positive oviposition experience outweighs volatile cues for host-finding behavior.
Area of Science:
- Chemical Ecology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Insect-Plant Interactions
Background:
- Insect herbivores release plant volatile compounds attracting natural enemies.
- Cotesia marginiventris, a parasitoid wasp, is attracted to volatiles from Spodoptera exigua-damaged plants.
- Learning in C. marginiventris to volatile blends is known, but host suitability discrimination is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate how C. marginiventris distinguishes between host species of varying suitability.
- Determine the role of differentially induced volatiles in host-finding by C. marginiventris.
- Assess the impact of oviposition experience on host-finding behavior.
Main Methods:
- Wind tunnel flight assays to observe C. marginiventris behavior.
- Comparison of volatile blends induced by Spodoptera exigua and Trichoplusia ni on cotton.
- Evaluation of flight responses to concurrent presentation of distinct volatile blends.
Main Results:
- C. marginiventris can distinguish between volatile blends from S. exigua and T. ni.
- Positive oviposition experience on S. exigua is more critical than volatile cues for host-finding.
- Oviposition in the sub-optimal host T. ni did not lead to aversive odor associations.
Conclusions:
- Parasitoid wasps rely on learned oviposition experiences more than specific volatile cues for host selection.
- Associative learning in C. marginiventris is robust, not negatively impacted by suboptimal host encounters.
- Understanding host-parasitoid interactions informs biological control strategies.
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