外源茉莉酸诱导菜豆对西花蓟马和南方小花蝽的行为反应

【目的】为明确茉莉酸诱导的菜豆对西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis和南方小花蝽Orius similis的行为反应。【方法】采用四臂嗅觉仪测定了西花蓟马和南方小花蝽对不同浓度茉莉酸诱导菜豆后的行为反应,并用气相色谱-质谱联用仪测定了不同浓度茉莉酸处理后菜豆挥发物的成分。【结果】不同浓度茉莉酸处理的菜豆植株对西花蓟马和南方小花蝽分别有不同程度的驱避和吸引作用,以1 mmol/L的茉莉酸处理植株对西花蓟马的驱避作用最强,0.1 mmol/L的茉莉酸处理植株对南方小花蝽的吸引作用最强。不同处理菜豆的挥发物在含量和成分上存在显著差异,(Z)-3-己烯丙酸酯、2-异丙基-甲氧基毗嗦只有在茉莉酸处理植株中检测到。结合不同浓度茉莉酸处理植株对西花蓟马和南方小花蝽的行为反应及菜豆挥发物含量的变化趋势,推测(E)-2-己烯醛对西花蓟马有驱避作用,(E)-2-乙酸叶醇酯对南方小花蝽具有引诱作用。【结论】茉莉酸处理菜豆后,植物挥发物种类和含量发生了变化,在增强菜豆植株抗虫性的同时,还可增强捕食性天敌南方小花蝽的搜索和捕食能力。     

外源化合物诱导后小麦对麦长管蚜和粘虫的抗虫性研究

喷施外源化合物和昆虫取食均可诱导小麦的防御反应,如挥发物组成发生改变、某些次生物质含量增加或减少,进而影响昆虫和天敌的行为反应。本实验中小麦苗经茉莉酸或几丁质喷施诱导,可显著提高小麦中丁布的含量,但茉莉酸甲酯的诱导作用不明显。喷施茉莉酸及麦长管蚜或粘虫取食诱导小麦,会导致小麦挥发物的种类及含量与对照相比有显著不同,3种处理间小麦的挥发物也存在显著差异。用经茉莉酸处理的麦苗饲养麦长管蚜和粘虫,可显著抑制二者的生长发育速度,使体重减轻,并导致麦长管蚜繁殖力下降。经茉莉酸处理的麦苗的挥发物对粘虫寄生蜂有吸引作用,表明茉莉酸在诱导小麦产生直接抗虫性的同时,还能诱导其释放吸引天敌的挥发性化合物从而产生间接抗性。     

菜蛾盘绒茧蜂卵携带的免疫抑制因子

抑制寄主昆虫的免疫反应是内寄生蜂存活的关键。菜蛾盘绒茧蜂Cotesia vestalis（Haliday）寄生小菜蛾Plutella xylostella （L.）幼虫后,蜂卵如何逃避和抑制寄主的免疫攻击,尚未得到全面揭示。本文采用电镜技术系统观察了菜蛾盘绒茧蜂卵表面的超微结构。结果显示：蜂卵表面覆盖有纤维层和絮状的类病毒样纤丝（VLFs）,同时携带了含多分DNA病毒粒子（PDV）的萼液。在寄生初期,包裹在蜂卵表面的纤维层和VLFs首先起到保护蜂卵不被小菜蛾血细胞包囊的被动防御作用。随后,PDV发挥主动的免疫抑制作用。通过假寄生手段,证明了菜蛾盘绒茧蜂PDV (CvBV) 具有较持久的克服寄主免疫攻击的能力,是主要的免疫抑制因子。在假寄生后连续8 d的观察时间内,菜蛾盘绒茧蜂的蜂卵均未被包囊。结果提示,在菜蛾盘绒茧蜂-小菜蛾寄生体系中,菜蛾盘绒茧蜂采取被动防御和主动攻击两种方式应对寄主小菜蛾的免疫攻击。     

亚致死剂量阿维菌素和氟虫睛处理小菜蛾对寄生蜂菜蛾绒茧蜂生长发育的影响

分别在小菜蛾体内的菜蛾绒茧蜂处于卵期、早期幼虫和中期幼虫时,饲喂小菜蛾2龄幼虫亚致死剂量（＝LC₁₀）的阿维菌素和氟虫睛,研究上述杀虫剂处理对寄主体内菜蛾绒茧蜂结茧率和羽化率的影响。结果表明： 在菜蛾绒茧蜂处于卵期、早期幼虫和中期幼虫时,饲喂小菜蛾LC₁₀剂量阿维菌素处理的菜叶后,菜蛾绒茧蜂的结茧率分别下降26.6%,22.8%和5.8%,饲喂小菜蛾LC₁₀剂量氟虫睛处理的菜叶后,菜蛾绒茧蜂的结茧率分别下降76.9%,42.5%和18.5%。上述阿维菌素处理对菜蛾绒茧蜂成虫羽化率影响不显著,但上述氟虫睛处理可显著抑制菜蛾绒茧蜂成虫羽化率,在菜蛾绒茧蜂处于卵期、早期幼虫和中期幼虫时,饲喂小菜蛾LC₁₀ 剂量氟虫睛处理的菜叶可导致菜蛾绒茧蜂成虫羽化率分别下降53.1%,36.1%和47.8%。结果显示,即便是对寄主小菜蛾幼虫很低的剂量（LC₁₀剂量）也会显著危害小菜蛾幼虫体内的菜蛾绒茧蜂的生长发育。此外,饲喂小菜蛾幼虫亚致死剂量杀虫剂对菜蛾绒茧蜂生长发育的影响与杀虫剂种类及蛾绒茧蜂发育阶段有关。     

小菜蛾化学生态学研究现状与展望

本文综述了几种植物吸引或阻抑小菜蛾成虫产卵或幼虫取食的效应。完整的、机械损伤的和菜粉蝶为害的甘蓝类蔬菜释放出数十种醇、醛、酯、酮、硫化物、羧酸类、异硫氰酸酯类和萜烯类挥发性化合物。机械损伤的甘蓝和小菜蛾、菜粉蝶及蜗牛为害的甘蓝释放的挥发物引诱菜粉蝶绒茧蜂。小菜蛾为害甘蓝释放的挥发物引诱菜蛾绒茧蜂。小菜蛾性信息素基本成分是顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯醛和顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯乙酸酯。当顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯醛、顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯乙酸酯和顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯醇以 5∶5∶0 1或顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯醛、顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯乙酸酯、顺 -1 1 -十六碳烯醇和顺 -9-十四碳烯乙酸酯按70∶3 0∶1∶0 0 1比例制成的诱芯诱蛾效果较好。宜深入探究寄主植物—小菜蛾—菜蛾绒茧蜂间的通讯机制 ,开发高效诱芯。     

小菜蛾主要寄生性天敌——菜蛾绒茧蜂与菜蛾啮小蜂间的相互作用

在28℃下,以小菜蛾3龄幼虫作寄主,研究了菜蛾绒茧蜂与菜蛾啮小蜂间的相互关系．当寄主供2种蜂同时产卵寄生时,与只供1种蜂时相比。绒茧蜂的寄生率无显著变化,而啮小蜂的寄生率则显著下降;2种蜂的合计寄生率与任一种蜂单独存在时相比无显著差异．当寄主先供绒茧蜂寄生,再供啮小蜂寄生时,绒茧蜂的成功寄生率不受影响,而啮小蜂的寄生率仅为8％～13％;啮小蜂能寄生在寄主体内的绒茧蜂高龄幼虫．绒茧蜂能寄生已被啮小蜂寄生的寄主幼虫,其子代部分个体能正常发育至成虫羽化．当已被绒茧蜂寄生和未被寄生的寄主同时存在时,啮小蜂主要寄生未被寄生的寄主．表明绒茧蜂具有竞争优势。但这种优势可因啮小蜂的寄生而被削弱．     

菜蛾绒茧蜂和小菜蛾对杀虫剂的敏感性及酶学特性的比较研究

分别采用药膜法和浸叶法测定了菜蛾绒茧蜂Apanteles plutellae和小菜蛾Plutella xylostella对杀虫剂的敏感度。结果显示： 有机磷、氨基甲酸酯、拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂、阿维菌素和锐劲特对菜蛾绒茧蜂高毒,而抑太保和Bt为低毒,然而,短时间(1 h)接触常规防治剂量的锐劲特、氰戊菊酯、氯氰菊酯和乙酰甲胺磷对菜蛾绒茧蜂低毒。增效剂胡椒基丁醚（PB）、磷酸三苯酯（TPP）和马来酸二乙酯（DEM）对菜蛾绒茧蜂的甲胺磷、克百威、氰戊菊酯、氯氰菊酯、阿维菌素和锐劲特敏感性增效显著,但对抑太保无增效作用。PB的增效作用显著高于TPP 和DEM。PB和TPP对菜蛾绒茧蜂羧酸酯酶(CarE),以及DEM对谷胱甘肽S转移酶(GST)具显著的活体抑制作用,但PB,TPP和 DEM对菜蛾绒茧蜂乙酰胆碱酯酶（AChE）无抑制作用。菜蛾绒茧蜂AChE的米氏常数(K_m)、最大反应速度(V_max)、CarE和GST活性分别为小菜蛾的0.22、2.08、4.60和0.45倍,甲胺磷、敌敌畏和克百威对菜蛾绒茧蜂AChE的双分子速度常数(Ki)分别为对小菜蛾的14.7、10.5 和26.0倍。酶与抑制剂反应温度增高将导致酶抑制率增高,尤其对菜蛾绒茧蜂AChE的抑制作用更为显著。上述结果表明,菜蛾绒茧蜂对有机磷和氨基甲酸酯类杀虫剂的高敏感性与其显著高的AChE敏感性有关,氧化代谢的解毒作用对菜蛾绒茧蜂耐药性的影响大于水解作用。此外,对小菜蛾和菜蛾绒茧蜂杀虫剂敏感性差异的毒理学原因进行了讨论。     

闭弯尾姬蜂与菜蛾盘绒茧蜂寄生菜蛾幼虫时的种间竞争

在室内25℃下,以菜蛾3龄初幼虫作寄主,研究了菜蛾盘绒茧蜂Cotesia plutellae和半闭弯尾姬蜂Diadegma semiclausum的种间竞争。当寄主供2种蜂同时产卵寄生时,2种蜂各自的寄生率与其单独寄生时无显著差异,合计寄生率比一种蜂单独存在时有所提高,但差异不显著。2种蜂均能产卵寄生已被另一种蜂寄生了的寄主幼虫。当寄主被2种蜂寄生的间隔时间很短（少于10 h）时,所育出的蜂绝大部分（80%以上）为绒茧蜂;当寄主先被绒茧蜂寄生,并饲养2天以上再供弯尾姬蜂寄生时,所育出的全为绒茧蜂;当寄主先被弯尾姬蜂寄生,并饲养2天以上再供绒茧蜂寄生时,寄主幼虫绝大部分不能存活,只有少部分能育出寄生蜂,且多为弯尾姬蜂。当2种蜂的幼虫存在于同一寄主体内时,2种蜂的发育均受到另一种蜂的抑制;绒茧蜂1龄幼虫具有物理攻击能力,能将弯尾姬蜂卵或幼虫致死。这些结果表明,菜蛾盘绒茧蜂与半闭弯尾姬蜂在同一寄主中发育时,前者具有明显的竞争优势。     

桑天牛卵啮小蜂雌蜂对茉莉酸诱导的桑枝挥发物的触角电位和嗅觉反应

【目的】明确桑天牛卵啮小蜂Aprostocetus prolixus雌蜂对茉莉酸诱导的桑Morus alba枝挥发物的触角电位和嗅觉反应,有利于揭示茉莉酸诱导桑枝产生间接抗性的化学机制。【方法】采用动态顶空气体法收集茉莉酸处理后的桑枝挥发物,分别通过气相色谱-触角电位联用仪(GC-EAD)和气相色谱/质谱联用仪(GC/MS)筛选和鉴定对桑天牛卵啮小蜂雌蜂有EAD活性的化合物,并比较这些活性组分的释放速率在茉莉酸处理桑枝与蒸馏水处理的对照桑枝间的差异,最后利用Y-型嗅觉测定仪明确对该寄生蜂有引诱活性的组分。【结果】桑枝经茉莉酸处理后,其挥发物中的Z-3-己烯醇、γ-萜品烯、β-水芹烯、紫苏烯、水杨酸甲酯及3种未知化合物使桑天牛卵啮小蜂雌蜂产生明显的EAD反应,并且β-水芹烯、紫苏烯和水杨酸甲酯的释放量明显高于对照,其中β-水芹烯和紫苏烯仅存在于茉莉酸处理后桑枝的挥发物中,而Z-3-己烯醇的释放速率与对照无显著差异。0.1%β-水芹烯、0.1%紫苏烯以及0.01%和0.001%水杨酸甲酯对该蜂雌蜂具有显著的引诱作用。【结论】结果提示,茉莉酸促进桑枝大量释放β-水芹烯、紫苏烯和水杨酸甲酯,是茉莉酸诱导桑树对桑天牛产生间接抗性的重要机制。     

粉蝶盘绒茧蜂中国和荷兰种群学习行为及EAG反应的比较

昆虫的取食危害可导致植物释放的挥发物发生质和量的变化,天敌利用植物在受到植食性昆虫的危害后释放的挥发性物质来寻找寄主,这种植物挥发物在寄生蜂寻找寄主过程中扮演者重要的角色。粉蝶盘绒茧蜂(Cotesia glomerata)是菜粉蝶(pieris rapae)主要的内寄生蜂,是优良的蜂种,在生物防治上具有广阔的应用前景。分别以中国种群和荷兰种群的粉蝶盘绒茧蜂为研究对象,利用Y型嗅觉仪和触角电位(Electroantennogram,EAG)技术,比较了不同地理种群粉蝶盘绒茧蜂雌蜂的学习行为和触角电生理反应差异。旨在明确虫害植株释放的挥发物在两个地理种群中的作用。Y型嗅觉仪试验结果表明,雌蜂不同的学习经历会影响其对寄主植株的趋性行为。没有学习经历的中国种群雌蜂对虫害甘蓝挥发物较虫害紫甘蓝和虫害羽衣甘蓝挥发物表现出更强地趋性行为,无学习经历荷兰种群对虫害甘蓝挥发物同样表现出更强地趋性行为,中国种群3次间隔产卵和3次间隔气味学习使其对经历过的寄主植物挥发物趋性明显提高。荷兰种群3次间隔气味学习也会提高该蜂对经历寄主挥发物的趋性。EAG试验结果显示,两个地理种群雌蜂对所测定三类挥发物(体积比10-1)的反应强弱依次为:C6化合物>脂肪族化合物>萜类化合物;且在所测定的6种化合物剂量范围内,两个地理种群雌蜂均与trans-2--己醛和乙酸己酯(体积比10-4—10-1),壬醛、月桂烯和里那醇(体积比10-4—10-2)化合物的活性成正相关。结果表明,中国和荷兰种群雌蜂均表现出较为一致的学习能力和电生理反应。研究显示粉蝶盘绒茧蜂雌蜂可能利用甘蓝挥发物作为利它素而寻觅适宜的寄主,学习经历会明显提高该蜂对经历的寄主挥发物的趋性的行为。实验结果为菜粉蝶的生物防治提供理论基础。     

Differential parasitism of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) larvae by the parasitoid Cotesia plutellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on two host plant species

Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine host selection by Cotesia plutellae Kurdjumov when larvae of its host, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), fed on Chinese cabbage, Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis and those fed on common cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata were provided simultaneously, and to investigate the roles of plant and host volatiles in mediating host selection. When C. plutellae were provided with equal numbers of host larvae on plants of the two species in one arena, the parasitoid parasitized 4- to 15-fold more host larvae on Chinese cabbage than on common cabbage. This preference changed little with host density. However, an experience of searching coupled with an oviposition in a host larva on a leaf of the less-preferred plant, common cabbage, significantly increased the preference for parasitizing host larvae on this plant and resulted in twice as many host larvae parasitized on this plant than on Chinese cabbage. Dual choice tests with a Y-tube olfactometer showed that plant volatiles from Chinese cabbage were more attractive to female C. plutellae than those from common cabbage when plants of both species were either intact or infested. In parallel to the increased parasitism on common cabbage following experience, oviposition in a host larva on this less-preferred plant significantly increased the response to volatiles emanating from that plant. These results indicate that host plants may strongly influence the foraging behaviour of C. plutellae, but their differential attractiveness to the parasitoid may be altered by experience of the parasitoid.     

Non-host plant extracts reduce oviposition of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and enhance parasitism by its parasitoid Cotesia plutellae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Botanical preparations, usually from non-host plants, can be used to manipulate the behaviour of insect pests and their natural enemies. In this study, the effects of extracts of Chrysanthemum morifolium, a non-host plant of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), on the olfactory and oviposition responses of this phytophagous insect and on levels of parasitism by its specialist parasitoid Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov) were examined, using Chinese cabbage Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis as the test host plant. Olfactometer tests showed that volatiles of chrysanthemum extract-treated host plants were less attractive to P. xylostella females than those from untreated host plants; and in contrast, volatiles of the chrysanthemum extract-treated host plants were more attractive to females of its parasitoid C. plutellae than those from untreated host plants. Oviposition preference tests showed that P. xylostella females laid only a small proportion of their eggs on chrysanthemum extract-treated host plants, while ovipositing parasitoid females parasitized a much higher proportion of host larvae feeding on the treated host plants than on untreated host plants. These results suggest that certain non-host plant compounds, when applied onto a host plant, may render the plant less attractive to a phytophagous insect but more attractive to its parasitoids. Application of such non-host plant compounds can be explored to develop push-pull systems to reduce oviposition by a pest insect and at the same time enhance parasitism by its parasitoids in crops.     

Contrary effects of jasmonate treatment of two closely related plant species on attraction of and oviposition by a specialist herbivore

Elevated jasmonic acid (JA) concentrations in response to herbivory can induce wounded plants to produce defences against herbivores. In laboratory and field experiments we compared the effects of exogenous JA treatment to two closely related cabbage species on the host‐searching and oviposition preference of the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella. JA‐treated Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris) was less attractive than untreated Chinese cabbage to ovipositing DBM, while JA‐treatment of common cabbage (B. oleracea) made plants more attractive than untreated controls for oviposition by this insect. Similar effects were observed when plants of the two species were damaged by DBM larvae. In the absence of insect‐feeding, or JA application, Chinese cabbage is much more attractive to DBM than common cabbage. Inducible resistance therefore appears to occur in a more susceptible plant and induced susceptibility appears to occur in a more resistant plant, suggesting a possible balance mechanism between constitutive and inducible defences to a specialist herbivore.     

Induced parasitoid attraction by Arabidopsis thaliana: involvement of the octadecanoid and the salicylic acid pathway

Plants can use indirect defence mechanisms to protect themselves against herbivorous insects. An example of such an indirect defence mechanism is the emission of volatiles by plants induced by herbivore feeding. These volatiles can attract the natural enemies of these herbivores, for example, parasitoid wasps. Here, it is shown that the octadecanoid and the salicylic acid pathways are involved in the induced attraction of the parasitoid wasp Cotesia rubecula by Arabidopsis thaliana infested with the herbivore Pieris rapae. Besides exogenous application of jasmonic acid or salicylic acid, use is also made of transgenic Arabidopsis that do not show induced jasmonic acid levels after wounding (S-12) and transgenic Arabidopsis that do not accumulate salicylic acid (NahG). Treatment of Arabidopsis with jasmonic acid resulted in an increased attraction of parasitoid wasps compared with untreated plants, whereas treatment with salicylic acid did not. Transgenic plants impaired in the octadecanoid or the salicylic acid pathway were less attractive than wild-type plants.     

Induction of systemic acquired resistance in Zea mays also enhances the plant’s attractiveness to parasitoids

Plants under attack by caterpillars emit volatile compounds that attract the herbivore’s natural enemies. In maize, the caterpillar-induced production of volatiles involves the phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA). In contrast, pathogen attack usually up-regulates the salicylic acid (SA)-pathway and results in systemic acquired resistance (SAR) against plant diseases. Activation of the SA-pathway has often been found to repress JA-dependent direct defenses, but little is known about the effects of SAR induction on indirect defenses such as volatile emission and parasitoid attraction. We examined if induction of SAR in maize, by chemical elicitation with the SA-mimic benzo-(1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH), attenuates the emission of volatiles induced by Spodoptera littoralis or exogenously applied JA. In addition, we determined how these treatments affected the attractiveness of the plants to the parasitoid Microplitis rufiventris in a six-arm-olfactometer. BTH treatment alone resulted in significant systemic resistance of maize seedlings against the pathogen Setosphaeria turcica, but had no detectable effect on volatile emissions. Induction of SAR significantly reduced the emission rates of two compounds (indole and (E)-β-caryophyllene) in JA-treated plants, whereas no such negative cross-talk was found in caterpillar-damaged plants. Surprisingly, however, BTH treatment prior to caterpillar-feeding made the plants far more attractive to the parasitoid than plants that were only damaged by the herbivore. Control experiments showed that this response was due to plant-mediated effects rather than attractiveness of BTH itself. We conclude that in the studied system, plant protection by SAR activation is compatible with and can even enhance indirect defense against herbivores.     

小菜蛾咬食后青菜释放的挥发性物质成分和含量的变化

在虫害条件下,青菜释放出的挥发性化学物质成分较多．其中饱和烷烃类物质占多数,其次是芳烃类物质,其它为少量的不饱和烷烃、醛、醇、酮、酸和杂环化合物等．经小菜蛾取食危害的青菜释放的挥发性物质的量比未受损伤的青菜高3倍,且挥发性物质种类也多些．前者的挥发性物质多为分子量较小的物质,后者的挥发性物质多为分子量较大的物质．     

Reduction of ethylene emission from Scots pine elicited by insect egg secretion

Pinus sylvestris L. is known to activate indirect defence in response to attack by an herbivorous sawfly. Egg deposition by the sawfly Diprion pini L. induces pine to release, three days after egg laying, locally and systemically terpenoid volatiles that attract parasitoids to kill the eggs. The elicitor of the pine's response is located in the sawfly's oviduct secretion enveloping the eggs after deposition. Application of this secretion on twigs with artificially conducted ovipositional woundings mimics the effects of egg deposition. Furthermore, jasmonic acid (JA) induces a volatile pattern similar, but not identical, to the one induced by egg deposition. To gain deeper insight into the transduction of plant signals induced by herbivore egg deposition, it was investigated whether ethylene emission from pine is affected by sawfly egg deposition. Systemically induced ethylene emission from differently treated pine twigs was monitored for a period of 3 d after treatment. Ethylene emissions from untreated control twigs were compared with those from twigs treated as follows: (i) sawfly egg secretion [=oviduct secretion (OVI)] was transferred on artificially wounded pine needles (attractive volatiles), (ii) needles were artificially wounded (non-attractive volatiles), and (iii) the twig was supplied with JA (attractive volatiles). Ethylene emission from systemically OVI-induced twigs was significantly lower than from untreated controls, whereas artificial wounding had no detectable effect. JA-treated twigs released much more ethylene and showed higher variability of ethylene emission than artificially wounded twigs and OVI-treated ones. Ethylene emissions from pine after the various treatments studied here are discussed with respect to known effects of insect feeding on ethylene release from plants.     

Effects of two neem insecticide formulations on the attractiveness, acceptability and suitability of diamondback moth larvae to the parasitoid, Diadegma mollipla (Holmgren) (Hym., Ichneumonidae)

Abstract:  Behavioural responses of female Diadegma mollipla to volatiles from cabbage plants and host-infested [ Plutella xylostella (L.)] cabbage plants sprayed with two neem insecticide formulations were investigated in a Y-tube olfactometer. Parasitoids were significantly more attracted to volatiles from cabbage and host-infested cabbage sprayed with the powder formulation than to clean air. In contrast, parasitoid response to volatiles from cabbage and host-infested cabbage sprayed with the oil formulation was not significantly different from clean air. In choice tests between infested plants sprayed with water (control) or the powder formulation, parasitoids showed no preference for volatiles from either of the treatments. In similar tests with the oil formulation, parasitoids showed a preference for volatiles from control plants over plants sprayed with the oil formulation. In host acceptance and suitability tests, parasitism rates in the neem- and water-sprayed hosts were, with one exception, not significantly different. However, the neem-sprayed larvae died earlier than control larvae and were therefore not able to support parasitoid development. The implication of these findings for the combined use of neem insecticides and parasitoids in the management of P. xylostella is discussed.     

Effects of specialist parasitoids on oviposition preference of phytophagous insects: encounter–dilution effects in a tritrophic interaction

Abstract.  1. Host plant preferences of the female diamondback moth Plutella xylostella were studied.
2. Female moths preferred conspecific-damaged cabbage plants over undamaged cabbage plants. The performance of P. xylostella larvae on conspecific-infested plants did not differ significantly from that of larvae on undamaged plants.
3.  Cotesia plutellae , the specialist parasitoid wasp of P. xylostella larvae, displayed equal preference for plants with differing levels of host-larvae damage, and the wasp attacked only one or two hosts on average before leaving an infested plant, irrespective of the number of hosts on the plant. It is hypothesised that the oviposition preferences of P. xylostella females for host plants already damaged by conspecific larvae demonstrate an encounter–dilution effect against C. plutellae .