Beneficial arthropod behavior mediated by airborne semiochemicals - III. Influence of age and experience on flight chamber responses of Microplitis demolitor wilkinson

Heliothis zea (Boddie) larvae fed cowpea seedlings produced volatile semiochemicals to which Microplitis demolitor Wilkinson responded in a wind tunnel. However, most M. demolitor females reared from H. zea larvae fed an artificial diet were not responsive at emergence to the same volatile semiochemicals. A preflight contact with frass from H. zea fed cowpea was needed to stimulate a response of sustained flight in a wind tunnel. The most consistent flight response was 7-10 days postemergence. Response resulting from both antennal and ovipositor contact with host frass during preflight stimulation was no better than from antennal contact alone. Chilling the parasitoid pupae rendered most of the emerging females unresponsive to volatile semiochemicals.