| Title: | Female-borne cues affecting Psyttalia concolor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) male behavior during courtship and mating |
| Author(s): | Canale A; Benelli G; Lucchi A; |
| Address: | "Department of Tree Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. acanale@agr.unipi.it" |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2012.01516.x |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1744-7917 (Electronic) 1672-9609 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate courtship and mating behavior in Psyttalia concolor (Szepligeti)-a koinobiont endophagous solitary parasitoid of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), and of other fruit flies-is essential to its mass rearing and management. Augmentative releases of P. concolor for olive fruit fly control started in the Mediterranean areas in the 1950s and still continue with limited success. We determined the influence of visual and chemical cues on courtship and mating behavior of this braconid and the possible effect of the mating status of males and females in the perception of these cues. Our results suggest that integration of visual and chemical stimuli are fundamental for mate location and courtship. Indeed, the optimal response of the male was achieved when physical and chemical cues were simultaneously presented and vision and olfaction worked synergistically" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Female Hymenoptera/*physiology Male Sex Attractants/*physiology Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology Bactrocera oleae Ceratitis capitata Ipm Opiinae biological control sexual communication;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineCanale, Angelo Benelli, Giovanni Lucchi, Andrea eng Australia 2013/08/21 Insect Sci. 2013 Jun; 20(3):379-84. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2012.01516.x. Epub 2012 Jul 23" |
