A long-range attractant kairomone for egg parasitoidTrissolcus basalis, isolated from defensive secretion of its...

A short-chain α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, (E)-2-decenal, present in the defensive metathoracic gland ofNezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), stimulates a behavioral response in the egg parasitoidTrissolcus basalis (Woll.) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Preliminary studies showed thatT. basalis are attracted to an area containing adultN. viridula, but we also found that femaleT. basalis would examine and probe glass beads coated with an acetone extract of the metathoracic gland from males or females. Using this bioassay, the kairomone was isolated by bioassay directed by preparative gas chromatography and identified by NMR and mass spectrometry as (E)-2-decenal. The biological activity of the identified aldehyde was compared with analogs to determine specificity. An unstable Z isomer was found to be more active but not present in detectable or behaviorly relevant levels in the host, based on the bell-shaped dose-response curve of the two isomers. An investigation was also designed to determine if theE isomer was also responsible for the egg recognition kairomone activity previously reported. However, no 2-decenal isomers were detected in host egg extracts and the chemical characteristics of the 2-decenal isomers differ from the unidentified egg recognition kairomone. The role of the (E)-2-decenal in attracting femaleT. basalts toN. viridula was demonstrated in a Y-tube olfactometer; this alk-2-enal appears to act as a long-range kairomone orientingT. basalis toNezara populations.