Olfactory conditioning in Goniozus nephantidis (Musebeck) a parasitoid of coconut black headed caterpillar, Opisina arenosella Walker
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Date
2007-02
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Abstract
Egg maturation and behavioral response to imaginal conditioning was studied on bethylid, Goniozus nephantidis, a parasite of coconut black-headed caterpillar, Opisina arenosella. Age and feeding had influence on G. nephantidis reared on O. arenosella. Eclosed females of 0-24 h had no mature eggs. Maximum numbers of mature eggs in the abdomen were observed 10 days after eclosion. Parasitoids that emerged from Corcyra cephalonica when offered a choice to parasitize C. cephalonica and O. arenosella showed preference to C. cephalonica, the host on which it was reared (Unconditioned response). Though unconditioned, they had 32 per cent response to O. arenosella and this is termed innate response. But when they were conditioned to odour of O. arenosella and then provided a choice, they preferred to parasitize O. arenosella as compared to C. cephalonica. Hence, it is clear that attraction to odours in imago that develops after eclosion is partly induced and partly Constitutive. © 2005 Association for Advancement of Entomology.
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Keywords
Olfactory conditioning, Goniozus nephantidis, Opisina arenosella
Citation
Entomon 2005, v.30(2) p-165-170