Abstract
We compared the foraging strategies of two key braconid endoparasitoids of the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens Fab.), Cardiochiles nigriceps Vier. and Microplitis croceipes Cresson, that differ in host and habitat range but otherwise share comparable, overlapping niches. The most important host-location cues by far for both species were materials associated with damaged plants. Both species demonstrated a significant preference for volatiles released from plants damaged by H. virescens larvae over those released from undamaged tobacco and cotton plants. In choice experiments with damaged tobacco versus cotton, M. croceipes showed a significant preference for cotton plants. In contrast, C. nigriceps preferred damaged tobacco plants. Plant compounds provoked a strong response even when released from systemically induced plants (from which damaged leaves, host, and host by-products were removed). C. nigriceps appears to have a much keener ability to locate hosts over long distances than M. croceipes. This observation may be related to the highly specialized nature of this parasitoid. The possible adaptive significance of the foraging behaviors of these two parasitoids is discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 571-583 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Journal of Insect Behavior |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1999 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Insect Science
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Analyses of two parasitoids with convergent foraging strategies. / De Moraes, Consuelo M; Lewis, W. J.
In: Journal of Insect Behavior, Vol. 12, No. 5, 01.01.1999, p. 571-583.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Analyses of two parasitoids with convergent foraging strategies
AU - De Moraes, Consuelo M
AU - Lewis, W. J.
PY - 1999/1/1
Y1 - 1999/1/1
N2 - We compared the foraging strategies of two key braconid endoparasitoids of the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens Fab.), Cardiochiles nigriceps Vier. and Microplitis croceipes Cresson, that differ in host and habitat range but otherwise share comparable, overlapping niches. The most important host-location cues by far for both species were materials associated with damaged plants. Both species demonstrated a significant preference for volatiles released from plants damaged by H. virescens larvae over those released from undamaged tobacco and cotton plants. In choice experiments with damaged tobacco versus cotton, M. croceipes showed a significant preference for cotton plants. In contrast, C. nigriceps preferred damaged tobacco plants. Plant compounds provoked a strong response even when released from systemically induced plants (from which damaged leaves, host, and host by-products were removed). C. nigriceps appears to have a much keener ability to locate hosts over long distances than M. croceipes. This observation may be related to the highly specialized nature of this parasitoid. The possible adaptive significance of the foraging behaviors of these two parasitoids is discussed.
AB - We compared the foraging strategies of two key braconid endoparasitoids of the tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens Fab.), Cardiochiles nigriceps Vier. and Microplitis croceipes Cresson, that differ in host and habitat range but otherwise share comparable, overlapping niches. The most important host-location cues by far for both species were materials associated with damaged plants. Both species demonstrated a significant preference for volatiles released from plants damaged by H. virescens larvae over those released from undamaged tobacco and cotton plants. In choice experiments with damaged tobacco versus cotton, M. croceipes showed a significant preference for cotton plants. In contrast, C. nigriceps preferred damaged tobacco plants. Plant compounds provoked a strong response even when released from systemically induced plants (from which damaged leaves, host, and host by-products were removed). C. nigriceps appears to have a much keener ability to locate hosts over long distances than M. croceipes. This observation may be related to the highly specialized nature of this parasitoid. The possible adaptive significance of the foraging behaviors of these two parasitoids is discussed.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0033504910&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1020967417801
DO - 10.1023/A:1020967417801
M3 - Article
VL - 12
SP - 571
EP - 583
JO - Journal of Insect Behavior
JF - Journal of Insect Behavior
SN - 0892-7553
IS - 5
ER -