Microorganisms are involved in the production of volatile kairomones affecting the host seeking behaviour of Diadromus pulchellus, a parasitoid of Acrolepiopsis assectella

Abstract. Experiments were carried out to determine the origin of dialkyl disulphides found in the larval frass of Acrolepiopsis assectella Zell. which enable the specialist parasitoid Diadromus pulchellus Wsm. to find its host. These kairomones are not specific: they are also found in the frass of the generalist Cacoecimorpha pronubana Hb. fed a leek-based diet. They are emitted only after the frass emerges from the gut. Bacteria are present in the gut of larvae and in their frass. The addition of antibiotics to the larval diet prevents bacterial development and suppresses disulphide emission. When grown in the presence of sulphur amino acids, precursors of sulphur volatiles, some bacteria metabolize kairomones. The production of volatile kairomones, responsible for host– parasitoid relationships, depends on the presence of additional organisms, i.e. bacteria, and not on enzymes arising from the plant or the phytophage.