| Title: | Recognition of foreign oviposition-marking pheromone in a multi-trophic context |
| Author(s): | Stelinski LL; Rodriguez-Saona C; Meyer WL; |
| Address: | "Entomology and Nematology Department, Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA. stelinski@ufl.edu" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00114-009-0507-z |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1432-1904 (Electronic) 0028-1042 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Both phytophagous and parasitic insects deposit oviposition-marking pheromones (OMPs) following oviposition that function to inform conspecifics of a previously utilized host of reduced suitability. The blueberry maggot fly, Rhagoletis mendax Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), deposits eggs individually into blueberries and then marks the fruit surface with an OMP which reduces acceptance of fruit for oviposition by conspecifics. Diachasma alloeum (Muesebeck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a parasitic wasp attacking larval R. mendax which also deposits an OMP, signaling conspecifics of a wasp-occupied host. Behavioral studies were conducted testing the hypothesis that the OMP of the parasitic wasp modifies the oviposition behavior of its host fly. In this study, we show that the OMP of D. alloeum is recognized by R. mendax, and female flies will reject wasp-marked fruit for oviposition. Thus, we present a rare demonstration of pheromonal recognition between animals occupying different taxonomic orders and trophic levels. This chemical eavesdropping may enhance the ability of the fly to avoid fruit unsuitable for larval development" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Diptera/physiology Ecosystem Female Fruit/parasitology Larva/physiology Learning/physiology New Jersey Oviposition/*physiology Pheromones/*physiology Pupa/physiology *Recognition, Psychology Tephritidae/*physiology Wasps/physiology;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineStelinski, L L Rodriguez-Saona, C Meyer, W L eng Germany 2009/01/20 Naturwissenschaften. 2009 May; 96(5):585-92. doi: 10.1007/s00114-009-0507-z. Epub 2009 Jan 17" |
