沙棘绕实蝇成虫对不同视觉信息的选择趋性研究

沙棘绕实蝇Rhagoletis batava obseuriosa是沙棘Hippophae rhamnoides果实的主要害虫,通过研究其对不同颜色、大小、形状物体选择的差异,可为利用其视觉信息控制沙棘绕实蝇的行为奠定基础。本研究在内蒙古磴口县沙棘林样地,分别悬挂不同颜色、形状、表面积的实验材料,测试沙棘绕实蝇成虫的选择性;采用野外采集的沙棘绕实蝇蛹,室内待其羽化后,引入有不同颜色产卵器的饲养箱内,观察记录成虫在不同颜色产卵器上的产卵量。结果显示沙棘绕实蝇成虫在野外对不同颜色、相同形状相同表面积球体的趋向性为:橙色黄色绿色红色蓝色紫色。不同表面积、相同颜色和相同形状的野外引诱实验中,大球的引诱量显著高于中球和小球,正方体的表面积越大引诱能力越强,且不同正方体之间差异显著;不同形状、相同表面积和相同颜色物体对沙棘绕实蝇的引诱实验中,4种形状的引诱能力为:正方体正三角体长方体球体,但形状之间的诱捕效果差异未达显著性。沙棘绕实蝇雌成虫在产卵期对颜色的偏好性依次为橙色绿色黄色红色浅绿色蓝色。沙棘绕实蝇成虫对不同颜色和表面积具明显的趋向选择性,对不同形状没有明显趋向选择性。     

普通大蓟马对不同颜色的趋性及日节律调查

【目的】探明普通大蓟马Megalurothrips usittus(Bagrall)的嗜好颜色及其田间日活动节律。【方法】分别在室内和田间对10种不同颜色色板(白色、黑色、灰色、红色、绿色、黄色、蓝色、紫色、粉色和浅蓝色,佳多~?进行了非选择性试验,并通过将RGB颜色值转换为虚拟波长进行最嗜颜色量化非选择性试验,然后选择引诱效果最好的色板对普通大蓟马进行日活动节律调查。【结果】室内和田间选择试验表明蓝色对普通大蓟马的吸引率显著高于其它颜色,其次是浅蓝色和紫色;由RGB颜色值转换虚拟波长得到普通大蓟马最嗜颜色对应的波长为470 n(RGB值为0,193,255,蓝色);通过蓝板调察普通大蓟马日活动节律发现,普通大蓟马成虫种群活动节律明显,活动规律呈单峰型,活动最高峰为8:00-10:00,夜间(20:00—次日6:00)几乎不活动。【结论】研究结果为基于颜色趋性的普通大蓟马田间监测和综合治理提供了理论基础和科学依据。     

锈赤扁谷盗成虫趋光行为研究

【目的】研究灯光诱捕技术防治锈赤扁谷盗Cryptolestes ferrugineus(Stephens)的可行性。【方法】在实验室条件下测定了锈赤扁谷盗成虫对不同光源的趋光反应。【结果】锈赤扁谷盗成虫对实验所选取的光源都有一定的趋性。在可见光中,对主波长为575 nm的光源的趋性最强,对430、495、620、530和450 nm光源的趋性依次降低。在紫外光中,对主波长为385 nm的光源的趋性显著高于对主波长为365、375和395 nm的光源;1~10日龄的锈赤扁谷盗成虫,随日龄的增加,成虫趋光性先增强后有所减弱;雌虫的趋光性高于雄虫,且交配状态会影响雌虫和雄虫的趋光性。交配会抑制雄虫的趋光性,但是交配后的雌虫的趋光性增强;短期饥饿处理和灯光经历对害虫趋光性无显著影响。【结论】锈赤扁谷盗成虫对光波长的选择偏好性证实了其灯光诱捕技术的可行性。     

桔小实蝇成虫对不同颜色和气味物质的趋性反应

研究了不同颜色和气味物质对桔小实蝇(Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel)取食和产卵选择以及趋向行为的影响。结果表明:桔小实蝇成虫对绿色食物具有较强的取食趋性,橙色次之,对黄色和红色的食物趋性弱,同时,雌、雄虫之间对食物颜色的选择无明显差异;在黄、绿、白3种颜色中,桔小实蝇对黄色基质的产卵趋性最强,绿色次之,对白色基质的产卵趋性最弱;嗅觉实验结果中,桔小实蝇成虫对乙酸乙酯、蔗糖、蜂蜜和酵母的气味表现明显趋性,但对红糖气味无趋性反应;而乙酸对桔小实蝇成虫有明显驱避活性;而雌虫对这些物质的嗅觉反应敏感于雄虫。     

草地贪夜蛾的择偶与生殖力研究

【目的】探究草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda主要择偶策略及其与生殖力的关系,并基于性选择理论探讨其择偶策略的进化意义和机制。【方法】将经过标记的不同日龄、不同体重及不同交配经历的草地贪夜蛾雌雄成虫进行配对,然后对配偶选择进行观察并对交配成功的雌雄成虫形态特征(体长、触角长度、翅长、胸部及腹部长度和宽度)及生殖力(单雌产卵量、卵孵化率和孵化出的幼虫数)进行比较分析。【结果】草地贪夜蛾雌雄成虫均偏好与年轻、体重较重及未交配过的成虫进行交配。雌成虫选择年轻(3日龄)雄成虫进行交配的概率(65.45%)显著高于选择年老(7日龄)雄成虫进行交配的概率(34.55%),雄成虫选择3日龄雌成虫进行交配的概率(82.35%)显著高于选择7日龄雌成虫进行交配的概率(17.65%)。雌成虫选择体重较大雄成虫进行交配的概率(74.58%)显著高于选择体重较轻雄成虫进行交配的概率(25.42%),雄成虫选择体重较重雌成虫进行交配的概率(66.67%)显著高于选择体重较轻雌成虫进行交配的概率(33.33%)。雌成虫选择无交配经历雄成虫进行交配的概率(64.91%)显著高于选择有交配经历雄成虫...     

红色草金鱼对不同颜色背景的选择偏好

鱼类对环境颜色的偏好受到很多研究者关注, 但鱼类是否能够辨别颜色并对不同颜色有不同反应,一直处于争议之中.本研究通过记录和比较红色草金鱼Carassius auratus对不同彩色(红色、橙色、黄色、绿色、青色、蓝色、紫色)背景和白色背景的时间选择差异, 研究了红色草金鱼对不同颜色背景的选择.结果显示, 红色草金鱼对白色背景和彩色背景的时间选择没有显著差异, 对各单色背景的时间选择也没有显著差异, 这表明红色草金鱼对不同背景颜色没有明显的选择偏好.该结果对了解鱼类对颜色的选择偏好和指导红色草金鱼饲养时水族箱及其布景颜色设计有一定理论和实践意义.     

石斛篓象成虫对不同来源气味的行为反应

【目的】研究不同来源气味对石斛篓象Nassophasis sp.成虫嗅觉选择行为的影响,对于发展新型石斛篓象成虫防治技术具有重要意义。【方法】应用陷阱式嗅觉测定仪测试了石斛篓象成虫对同种个体气味、蛹壳气味、成虫粪便、球花石斛Dendrobium thyrsiflorum受害植株气味的嗅觉反应。【结果】雌成虫气味对雄成虫有引诱作用,对雌成虫没有引诱作用;雄虫气味对雌、雄成虫均无引诱效果。雌、雄蛹壳气味对雌、雄成虫均有显著引诱效果。两性成虫聚集时产生的粪便对雌、雄成虫均有显著引诱作用,雌虫或者雄虫单独放置时产生的粪便对雌、雄成虫均无引诱效果。被雌虫为害的球花石斛植株茎干释放的气味仅对雌虫有引诱作用, 而受雄虫为害后的茎干产生的气味仅对雄成虫有引诱作用。【结论】本研究为进一步分离、 鉴定对该虫有引诱作用的活性物质奠定了基础。     

柑橘大实蝇对不同颜色和糖类的偏好及对糖类的嗅觉反应

为探明影响柑橘大实蝇Bactrocera minax(Enderlein)成虫取食偏好的因素,本文研究了其对不同颜色和糖类物质的选择及其嗅觉反应。结果表明:柑橘大实蝇成虫明显偏好黄色和橙色基质的食物,对绿、白、蓝、黑、红色食物趋性较弱;对不同糖类的选择顺序是:红糖蜂蜜蔗糖和白糖;不同采集地间和不同性别间的柑橘大实蝇对颜色、糖类物质的选择差异不显著。嗅觉行为测试结果,柑橘大实蝇雌雄虫对所测试几种糖的气味均表现明显趋性,其中,雌虫对红糖和蜂蜜气味的嗅觉反应比雄虫更敏感。研究结果可以为柑橘大实蝇成虫食诱剂的研制和诱捕器的设计提供重要参考依据。     

金斑蝶觅食求偶过程中的视觉嗅觉利用

【目的】阐明金斑蝶Danaus chrysippus觅食求偶时视觉嗅觉信息利用机制。【方法】通过行为学观察,测试金斑蝶成虫对7种不同颜色的假花和假花喷施10%蜂蜜水后的觅食响应;通过自然种群求偶和塑封模型访问试验,验证金斑蝶对颜色和气味行为响应。【结果】在无气味的7种颜色的假花条件下,金斑蝶成虫访花总次数为138次,对长波长红色(620～750 nm)显示出明显的颜色趋性(占总访花次数的 52.17%),访问蓝色(占总访花次数的15.22%)和橙色(占总访花次数的11.59%)次之,其他4种颜色假花较少访问;在假花上喷洒10%蜂蜜水后,金斑蝶成虫访花总次数增加3.05倍,雌雄蝶访花次数分别增加3.31和2.86倍;去花冠无气味的花枝几乎没有蝴蝶访问,然而在去花冠无气味的假花花枝上喷洒10%蜂蜜水后,金斑蝶成虫访花总次数增加146次,对单一颜色的访问次数与对单一气味的访问次数相比无显著差异,金斑蝶成虫对气味加颜色的访问总次数较对单一气味的访问总次数增加2.88倍,雌雄蝶访花次数分别增加2.95和2.83倍;金斑蝶雄蝶对颜色和气味的敏感性高于雌蝶。在求偶过程中,金斑蝶对自然种群与蝶翅模型都有雄追雄、雄追雌、雌追雌和雌追雄4种模式,但金斑蝶对无气味蝶翅模型的追逐次数显著低于对自然种群的追逐次数。在自然光下,雌雄蝶翅颜色和图案相近,除了雄蝶后翅腹面多一白色性标斑点外,其他无显著区别;在紫外光下,蝶翅模型的颜色和图案比自然蝶翅更为明显,可能有助于异性识别。【结论】金斑蝶成虫在觅食和求偶过程中,视觉嗅觉同等重要。颜色较稳定、醒目、容易被发现;气味不稳定、易挥发、受环境干扰较大。在觅食中,金斑蝶利用视觉先进行初步定位,通过嗅觉和味觉确认食物资源;在求偶中,金斑蝶成虫通过视觉初步区分异性,然后依靠嗅觉进行精确识别。     

取食和交配对苹小吉丁飞行能力的影响

【目的】苹小吉丁Agrilus mali是一种严重危害苹果树的钻蛀性害虫。本研究旨在明确苹小吉丁的飞行扩散能力及对其飞行能力产生影响的关键因子。【方法】以SUN-FL型智能飞行磨系统对苹小吉丁不同日龄雌雄成虫的飞行能力进行了测定,同时评价了取食和交配情况对其飞行能力的影响。【结果】苹小吉丁飞行能力均随日龄的增加先增强后逐渐降低,初羽化的成虫飞行能力最低,11日龄成虫的飞行能力最强。雌成虫飞行能力强于雄成虫。在24 h内雌雄成虫的最长飞行距离分别为0.4165和0.3559 km;最长飞行时间分别为0.4582和0.4873 h;最大飞行速度分别为2.4639和1.8561 km/h。取食的3日龄雌成虫的平均飞行距离和平均飞行时间分别为0.047 km和0.048 h,雄成虫的分别为0.044 km和0.042 h;而未取食的雌成虫平均飞行距离和平均飞行时间仅分别为0.016 km和0.013 h,雄成虫的仅分别为0.013 km和0.012 h。交配对飞行能力的影响存在性别差异,已交配雌成虫的飞行能力要强于未交配雌成虫的,而已交配雄成虫的飞行能力却低于未交配雄成虫的。【结论】日龄对苹小吉丁成虫的飞行能力影响作用显著。取食显著提高苹小吉丁雌雄成虫的飞行能力,交配显著提高雌成虫飞行能力。     

卷蛾分索赤眼蜂雌蜂的颜色偏好性

为了确定卷蛾分索赤眼蜂Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja 雌蜂的颜色偏好性, 在室内通过在培养皿底部黏贴彩纸的方法测定卷蛾分索赤眼蜂雌蜂对红、 黄、 黑、 紫、 绿、 白、 蓝7种颜色的行为趋性反应。结果表明, 卷蛾分索赤眼蜂雌蜂在红、 黄、 紫、 绿和蓝5种颜色上的滞留时间都极显著地高于对照（P<0.01）, 在黑和白2种颜色上的滞留时间与对照没有显著差异（P>0.05）; 对黄色的首次选择率极显著高于对照(P< 0.01), 对红、 紫、 绿和蓝色的首次选择率均显著高于对照(P＜0.05), 对黑色和白色的首次选择率与对照没有显著差异。当雌蜂分别在黄与红、 紫、 绿和蓝两两颜色之间选择时, 雌蜂在黄色彩纸上的滞留时间显著长于其他4种颜色。当雌蜂对红、 紫、 绿、 蓝和黄色5种颜色一起选择时, 在首次选择率、 滞留次数上5种颜色间都没有明显差异(P＞0.05); 但在红色和蓝色上的滞留时间显著长于紫色(P＜0.05), 在这3种颜色上的滞留时间与在黄色和绿色上的滞留时间均无显著差异(P＞0.05)。卷蛾分索赤眼蜂雌蜂在7种颜色卵卡上分别与透明纸（对照）上的米蛾卵的选择寄生时, 在黄色卵卡上的寄生卵量极显著多于对照(P＜0.01), 黑色卵卡上的寄生卵量极显著少于对照(P＜0.01), 其他5种颜色的卵卡上的寄生卵量与对照没有显著差异(P＞0.05)。结果说明, 卷蛾分索赤眼蜂雌蜂对黄色最为偏好, 其次偏好红、 紫、 绿和蓝色, 较不喜好白色和黑色。     

Regulation of color morphic patterns in the giant kelpfish, Heterostichus rostratus Girard: genetic versus environmental factors

Color choice experiments tested preferences of red, green, and brown color morphs of giant kelpfish, Heterostichus rostratus Girard, for matching versus non-matching colored backgrounds. Kelpfish were determined to prefer matching colors, these results being most pronounced with live plant backgrounds and progressively less significant with backgrounds of artificial plants and flat plastic panels, respectively. Adult kelpfish demonstrated a stronger preference for matching backgrounds than did juveniles.

Kelpfish larvae whose parents colors were known were reared on red, green, or brown colored backgrounds. They developed brown or green juvenile color morphic patterns, apparently independently of parent color. These rearing experiments indicated that development of juvenile color is determined by plant background.

Long-term color change abilities of juvenile and adult kelpfish color morphs on colored habitats were tested in laboratory and in situ experiments. It was found that juveniles readily changed on both artificial and live plant backgrounds from green to brown, and vice versa. Changes in color of adults were less pronounced and slower, particularly in laboratory experiments, and largely confined to females. In situ experiments yielded the greatest magnitudes of color change, some adult females changing between red, brown and green. Male and juvenile kelpfish were incapable of becoming red, corresponding to color morph frequency collection data. Adult males also apparently lost the capability to change to true green. These differences indicate that color change ability and assumption of red color may be governed by sex hormones.     

The photokinesis of oriental fruit flies,Bactrocera dorsalis,to LED lights of various wavelengths

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an invasive pest of orchards around the world, particularly in Asian countries such as China. Light traps offer a potential means for pest monitoring and management. This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of the fly to light and investigate the impact of monochromatic light in the sensitivity spectrum on B. dorsalis. Six light wavelengths in LEDs – green (522 nm), yellow (596 nm), blue (450 nm), red (633 nm), purple (440 nm), and white (compound light) – were adapted to test responses of 5‐, 10‐, and 20‐day‐old B. dorsalis adults kept in laboratory conditions. We also tested the effects of green and red lights on pupal development and adults’ life activities. The results indicated a phototaxis preference rank in B. dorsalis adults to monochromatic LEDs with, in decreasing order, green, yellow, purple, blue, and red. Moreover, positive phototaxis significantly increased with age. Male adults are more sensitive than female adults to test lights, mainly at the age of 10 and 20 days. Emergence rates of pupae exposed to 12 and 24 h green light daily were 42 and 67%, respectively, whereas controls held in red light emerged at 33 and 37%, respectively. Furthermore, body weight, female fecundity, and mortality of B. dorsalis in night‐time exposure of green light (from 21:00 to 09:00 hours; during daytime flies were illuminated by white LED light) were significantly higher than in red‐light test groups and dark controls. In conclusion, B. dorsalis displayed preference toward green light, and fly age and gender seemed to significantly impact the phototactic behavior. Green LED light exposure during nighttime remarkably improved the emergence rates of B. dorsalis, and it enhanced growth, development, and ovipositing peak period, but decreased adult lifespan. This research lays a foundation for the development of new trap models, e.g., with green sticky cards or green light, for monitoring and control of B. dorsalis in the field.     

Plant scents modify innate colour preference in foraging swallowtail butterflies

Flower-visiting insects exhibit innate preferences for particular colours. A previous study demonstrated that naive Papilio xuthus females prefer yellow and red, whereas males are more attracted to blue. Here, we demonstrate that the innate colour preference can be modified by olfactory stimuli in a sexually dimorphic manner. Naive P. xuthus were presented with four coloured discs: blue, green, yellow and red. The innate colour preference (i.e. the colour first landed on) of the majority of individuals was blue. When scent from essential oils of either orange flower or lily was introduced to the room, females’ tendency to select the red disc increased. Scents of lavender and flowering potted Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, however, were less effective. Interestingly, the odour of the non-flowering larval host plant, Citrus unshiu, shifted the preference to green in females. In males, however, all plant scents were less effective than in females, such that blue was always the most favoured colour. These observations indicate that interactions between visual and olfactory cues play a more prominent role in females.     

Colored bait preferences of house Fly (Musca domestica L.) (Dipetera: Muscidae)

The housefly, Musca domestica L. (Dipetera: Muscidae) transmits disease, contaminates laboratories, hospitals, equipment and can be annoying to people and animals. They are considered a serious urban pest worldwide. An important tool used to control houseflies is baiting. This study was undertaken to review the preference of housefly for different colored baits. Various colored baits were prepared and evaluated under laboratory conditions. These were colored blue, white, yellow, red, purple and green. Among the different colored baits used, the blue bait was preferred the most by the houseflies, followed by the white and yellow baits, and the red, purple and green baits were least attractive to the houseflies. Similarly, the blue bait was detected faster by the houseflies and was consumed significantly more than the red, purple or green baits. Also, the blue bait attracted a significantly higher number of flies than the red, purple and green baits.     

Color discrimination in wild boars

Two experiments were carried out in order to clarify the color perception of Japanese wild boarsSus scrofa leucomystax. Two females were trained using an operant conditioning technique to press a switch under a positive stimulus color card in order to receive food as a reward. In Exp. 1, they were tested for discrimination between 3 colors (red, green and blue) and gray. The luminosity of all colors was the same. The wild boars succeeded in discrimination tests between blue and gray, but failed to discriminate red from gray. They also did not discriminate green from gray so clearly as blue from gray. In Exp. 2, the same wild boars were tested to discriminate between 8 kinds of color, which were created by gradating green yellow into red purple except for the 3 colors used in Exp. 1, and gray. They could clearly discriminate blue, purple blue and a part of purple from gray. In these experiments, wild boars were capable of recognizing bluish colors. However, for colors approaching green or yellow, they failed the test by degrees.     

Spectral preference and temporal modulation of photic orientation by Colorado potato beetle on a servosphere

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a diurnal insect that strongly relies on visual cues to guide its walk. In the present study, we investigated the orientation behavior of non‐diapausing walking CPB in response to emissive colors produced by light emitting diodes (LEDs) in a dual choice arena adapted to a servosphere, where the only illumination available came from the photo‐stimuli. Our results demonstrate that CPB show positive phototactic behavior when stimulated with different wavelengths of light; they preferred to orient towards white (420–775 nm), ultraviolet (UV) (351 nm), blue (472 nm), green (570 nm), yellow (585 nm), orange (590 nm), and red (660 nm) over darkness when both alternatives were offered, but no orientation responses were elicited by infrared (940 nm). Both males and females preferred yellow and green over other colors, but did not show any particular preference between them, thus correlating with their preference for wavelengths reflected by vegetation. Sexual differences were noted in that male CPB preferred white over either red or UV, whereas female CPB did not show any preferences when offered these colors. Female CPB preferred UV and blue over red, whereas males showed no preferences when these colors were offered. Colorado potato beetles turned at higher angles and performed more tortuous walks in complete darkness and when infrared vs. darkness were offered compared with the rest of the colored lights. Both sexes preferred continuous over pulsed yellow light. Colorado potato beetles subjected to pulsed yellow light showed a temporal alteration of their walking performance by walking less, slower, and turning at a higher rate. The results are discussed with regard to the role of color in the CPB attraction to host plants and conspecifics as well as the role of intermittent photic stimuli in their orientation behavior. The information provided here provides a basis for the improvement of trapping devices for detection and survey of incipient or invasive CPB, and development of alternate control strategies for this important pest of potatoes and other solanaceous crops.     

瓢虫的趋光性反应研究

以六斑月瓢虫Menochilus sexmaculata Fabricius和狭臀瓢虫Coccinella transversalis Fabricius为例,研究了瓢虫对不同光质(波长)的趋光性反应。在室内分别测定了六斑月瓢虫和狭臀瓢虫对5种发光二极管(LED)光波的趋性,以及在田间挂板(佳多)测定了瓢虫对色板的选择趋性。室内测定结果表明,瓢虫对黄色和白色LED光波的选择趋性显著高于与其它颜色;田间挂板试验表明,黄色对瓢虫的诱杀作用最强。综合分析,黄色对瓢虫有强烈的吸引作用,建议在使用黄板进行田间监测和防治时应考虑对天敌瓢虫的诱杀作用。     

Spectral preferences of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae)

Many insects prefer lights with certain spectral properties, and such preferences may be associated with behavioral contexts such as mating, host finding or dispersal. Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) is a newly invasive species in Korea and is spreading rapidly. It is diurnal and may rely on visual cues for orientation. We conducted a series of three phototaxis experiments to understand spectral preferences in L. delicatula: light/dark choice, UV/white light choice, and color preference experiments. Nymphs of the third and final stages as well as adults were used for these experiments. In the light/dark choice, the orientation of L. delicatula was bimodal between the white light and darkness, for all stages and both sexes. In a choice of UV (395–410 nm wavelengths) vs. white light, L. delicatula of both sexes and all stages preferred the UV light. In the color preference experiment where insects had a choice of four colors in a circular arena, L. delicatula stayed significantly longer in the blue light than in white, yellow or green lights. Overall, nymphs and adults of L. delicatula oriented toward lights with shorter wavelengths, and this orientation was consistent throughout all stages, regardless of sex. It is necessary to investigate the behavioral contexts under which L. delicatula prefers the UV and blue lights.     

Influence of celestial light on visual and olfactory behavior of seed chalcids (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae)

When the alfalfa [Bruchophagus roddi (Gussakovsky)], clover [Bruchophagus gibbus (Boheman)], and trefoil seed chaldds (TSC) [Bruchophagus platypterus (Walker)] were exposed to yellow, white, green, and purple painted polyethylene vials perforated by four small holes, only the latter species had a color preference, and that was for yellow, the color of its host flower. When TSC were exposed to green and yellow targets 5 h after sunrise, they preferred yellow targets but not 1 h after sunrise. The possibility of a circadian response was eliminated because different sequences of light-dark regimes prior to the test did not change the results. When TSC were exposed only to yellow targets, half of which had trefoil flowers hidden within, females preferred targets with flowers. When an identical test was conducted but with green instead of yellow targets, the preference for targets with flowers disappeared. In a four-choice test, TSC preferred yellow targets with or without flowers to green targets with or without flowers. Thus, TSC displayed an olfactory response only when the color yellow was present. In unfiltered skylight females preferred baited targets when the test began 3 h before or 1 h after solar noon but not 4 h before or 2 h after solar noon. Chalcids did display an olfactory preference 4 h before solar noon when a Polaroid filter was used to filter skylight and provide an east-west but not a north-south E-vector. When Helmholtz coils were used to apply a magnetic field that canceled or changed the direction of the earth's magnetic field, olfactory preference disappeared because the applied magnetic field changed TSC perception of the E-vector. In effect, TSC must perceive yellow in the presence of an east-west E-vector to display an olfactory preference to a choice of odors. We believe this is the first report that the E-vector of celestial light can influence olfactory and visual behavior of an insect.