Is host selection influenced by natal and adult experience in the parasitoid Necremnus tutae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)?. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bodino, Nicola; Ferracini, Chiara; Tavella, Luciana
• Is Part Of: Animal behaviour. Volume 112(2016)
• Page Start: 221
• Page End: 228
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: Cosmopterix pulchrimella -- exotic and native hosts -- foraging behaviour -- host–plant complex -- odour attractiveness -- olfactometer assay -- tomato -- Tuta absoluta -- two-choice assay -- upright pellitory; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; 591.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.12.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-3472

Abstract

Abstract : Host selection in parasitoids can be influenced by learning cues obtained during natal and/or adult experience. We investigated the effects of natal and adult host experience on host selection by the indigenous parasitoid Necremnus tutae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), with an exotic host, the invasive tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), and a native host, Cosmopterix pulchrimella (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae). Colonies of the parasitoid N. tutae were reared on the exotic host T. absoluta and the native host C. pulchrimella, infesting tomato and upright pellitory plants, respectively. Six groups were obtained based on their rearing histories ( T. absoluta or C. pulchrimella larvae) and adult experience (no exposure to host larvae or oviposition experience on the two host species). Parasitoid females of the six groups were tested for behavioural responses to the two host–plant complexes (HPCs) in Y-tube olfactometer assays and in two-choice assays in test arenas. The results suggest that host experience during both natal and adult life may affect the HPC preference of this parasitoid species. In particular, adult experience proved to influence the host preference in both olfactometer and two-choice assays. By contrast, natal experience showed a significant influence on host choice only in naïve parasitoid females in the olfactometer bioassays. In general, the exotic host T. absoluta– tomato complex was the odour source preferred by the parasitoid N. tutae . The role of natal and adult experience in host-shifting dynamics and how these experiences can combine in adapting mechanisms to a new exotic insect of a generalist parasitoid species are also discussed. Highlights: Effect of natal and adult experience on the choice between native and exotic hosts was studied. Host experience affected the host–plant complex preference of Necremnus tutae . Adult experience influenced host preference and foraging behaviour of N. tutae females. The exotic host Tuta absoluta –tomato complex was generally the preferred odour source.