Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T00:16:38.984Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The chemical ecology of host location by parasitoids of African stemborers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Linnet S. Gohole
Affiliation:
Moi University, Department of Crop Production and Seed Technology, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
Adele J. Ngi-Song
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
Get access

Abstract

During foraging, parasitoids of insect herbivores are aided by chemical compounds generally termed ‘infochemicals’, to locate their hosts. The origin of the infochemicals varies; they may be derived from the herbivore itself or activities related to the biology of the herbivore, the host plant, or from interactions between the plant and the herbivore. This paper reviews the status of research in this area, and presents an account of the infochemicals used by African stemborer parasitoids during foraging, as well as recommending possible areas for further investigation. The information generated has potential for application in behaviour modification of parasitoids species in biological control programmes.

Résumé

Lors de la recherche de l'hôte les parasitoïdes des insectes herbivores s'orientent grâce à certains composés chimiques volatiles appelés ‘infochemicals’. L'origine de ces composés chimiques est variable. Ils proviennent soit de l'hôte lui-même, soit des activités en relation avec la biologie de l'hôte, de la plante hôte, ou de l'interaction entre les deux. Cet article revise le statut des recherches dans ce domaine. Il présente une liste des composés chimiques utilisés par les parasitoïdes des foreurs africains lors de la recherche de l'hôte et suggère des thèmes de recherches futures. Les informations générées ici ont un potentiel d'application dans les programmes de lutte biologique dans le cadre de la modification des comportements des espèces de parasitoïdes.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Achterberg, C. van and Polaszek, A., (1996) The parasites of cereal stemborers (Lepidotera: Cossidae, Crambidae, Noctuidae, Pyralidae) in Africa, belonging to the family Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea). Zoologische verhandelingen 304, 1123.Google Scholar
Achterberg, C. van and Walker, A.K. (1998) Braconidae, pp. 137185. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by Polaszek, A.). CAB International, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Altieri, M. A., Lewis, J. W., Nordlund, D. A., Gueldner, R. C. and Todd, J. A. (1981) Chemical interactions between plants and Trichogramma wasps in Georgia soybean fields. Protection Ecol. 3, 259263.Google Scholar
Bohhof, M. J., Overholt, W. A., van Huis, A. and Polaszek, A. (1997) Natural enemies of cereal stemborers in East Africa: A review. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 1935.Google Scholar
Bosque-Pérez, N.A. and Schulthess, F. (1998) Maize: West and Central Africa, pp. 1124. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by Polaszek, A.). CAB International, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Chinwada, P. and Overholt, W. A. (2001) Natural enemies of maize stemborers on the highveld of Zimbabwe. African Entomol. 9, 6775.Google Scholar
Conlong, D. E. (1997) Biological control of Eldana saccharina Walker in South African sugarcane: Constraints identified from 15 years of research. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 6978.Google Scholar
Conlong, D. E., Graham, D. Y. and Hastings, H. (1988) Notes on the natural host surveys and laboratory rearing of Goniozus natalensis Gordh (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), a parasitoid of Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Proc. S. Afr. Sugar Technol. Assoc. 58, 168172.Google Scholar
Cortesero, A. M., Stapel, J. O. and Lewis, W. J. (2000) Understanding and manipulating plant attributes to enhance biological control. Biol. Control 17, 3549.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costello, M. J. and Altieri, M. A. (1995) Abundance, growth rate and parasitism of Brevicoryne brassicae and Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) on broccoli grown in living mulches. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 52, 187196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dicke, M. and Sabelis, M. W. (1988) Infochemical terminology: should it be based on cost-benefit analysis rather than origin of compounds. Func. Ecol. 2, 131139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dicke, M. and Vet, L. E. M. (1999) Plant-carnivore interactions: evolutionary and ecological consequences for plant, herbivore and carnivore, pp. 483520. In Herbivores Between Plants and Predators (Edited by Olff, H., Brown, V. K. and Drent, R. H.). Blackwell Science, Oxford.Google Scholar
De Moraes, C. M., Mescher, M. C. and Tumlinson, J. H. (2001) Caterpillar-induced nocturnal plant volatiles repel conspecific females. Nature 410, 577580.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greathead, D. J. (1990) Utilization of natural enemies of Chilo spp. for management in Africa. Insect Sci. Applic. 11, 749755.Google Scholar
Harris, K. M. (1962) Lepidopterous stemborers of cereals in Nigeria. Bull. Entomol. Res. 53, 139171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, K. M. (1998) Diptera, pp. 265281. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by Polaszek, A.). CAB International, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Hailemichael, Y., Smith, J. W. Jr and Wiedenmann, R. N. (1994) Host- finding behaviour, host acceptance and host suitability of the parasite Xanthopimpla stemmator. Entomol Exp. Appl. 71, 155166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kessler, A. and Baldwin, I. (2001) Defensive function of herbivore-induced plant volatile emissions in nature. Science 291, 21412144.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kfir, R. (1990) Parasites of the spotted stalk borer Chilo pcrtellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in South Africa Entomophaga 35, 403410.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kfir, R. (1992) Seasonal abundance of stemborer Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and its parasites on summer grain crops, J. Econ. Entomol. 85, 518529.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kfir, R. (1995) Parasitoids of the African stemborer Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in South Africa. Bull. Entomol. Res. 85, 369377.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kfir, R. (1997) Natural control of the cereal stemborers Busseola fusca and Chilo partellus in South Africa. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 6167.Google Scholar
Kfir, R. and Bell, R. (1993) Intraseasonal changes in populations of the African maize stemborer Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Natal, South Africa. Rev. Zool. Afr. 107, 543553.Google Scholar
Khan, Z. R., Ampong-Nyarko, K., Chiliswa, P., Hassanali, A., Kimani, S., Lwande, W., Overholt, W. A., Pickett, J. A., Smart, L. E., Wadhams, L. J. and Woodcock, C. (1997a) Intercropping increases parasitism. Nature 388, 631632.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khan, Z. R., Chiliswa, P., Ampong-Nyarko, K., Smart, L. E., Polaszek, A., Wandera, J. and Mulaa, M. A. (1997b) Utilisation of wild gramineous plants for the management of cereal stemborers in Africa. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 143150.Google Scholar
Kimani, S. W. and Overholt, W. A. (1995) Biosystematics of the Cotesia flavipes Cameron complex (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Interspecific hybridisation, sex pheromone and mating behaviour studies. Bull. Entomol. Res. 85, 379386.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Le Pelley, H. (1959) Agricultural Insects of East Africa. East African High Commission. 307 pp.Google Scholar
Mathez, F. C. (1972) Chilo partellus Swinh., C. orichalcociliellus Strand (Lep.: Crambidae) and Sesamia calamistis Hmps (Lep.: Noctuidae) on maize in the Coast Province, Kenya. Mitt. Schweiz. Gesellschaft 45, 267289.Google Scholar
Milner, J. E. D. (1967) Final report on survey of the parasites of graminaceous stemborers in East Africa. Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control (unpublished).Google Scholar
Minja, E. M. (1990) Management of Chilo spp. infesting cereals in Eastern Africa. Insect Sci. Applic. 11, 489499.Google Scholar
Mohyuddin, A. I. (1972) Distribution, biology and ecology of Dentichasmias busseolae Heinr. (Hym., Ichneumonidae), a pupal parasite of graminaceous stemborers (Lep., Pyralidae). Bull. Entomol. Res. 62, 161168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mohyuddin, A. I. (1990) Biological control of Chilo spp. in maize, sorghum and millet. Insect Sci. Applic. 11, 721732.Google Scholar
Mohyuddin, A. I. and Greathead, D. J. (1970) An annotated list of the parasites of graminaceous stemborers in East Africa with a discussion of their potential in biological control. Entomophaga 15, 241247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ngi-Song, A. J. and Overholt, W. A. (1995) Host selection by Cotesia flavipes and Cotesia sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): an example of tritrophic relationship in a grass-stemborer parasitoid system, pp. 172181. In Intergrating Biological Control and Host Plant Resistance. Proceedings of a CTA/IAR/IIBC Seminar 9–14 October 1995, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Google Scholar
Ngi-Song, A. J., Overholt, W. A. and Ayertey, J. N. (1995) Suitability of African gramineous stemborers for development of Cotesia flavipes and C. sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Environ. Entomol. 24, 972984.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ngi-Song, A. J., Overholt, W. A., Njagi, P. G. N., Dicke, M., Ayertey, J. N. and Lwande, W. (1996) Volatile infochemicals used in host and host habitat location by Cotesia flavipes Cameron and Cotesia sesamiae Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), larval parasitoids of stemborers on graminae. J. Chem. Ecol. 22, 307323.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ngi-Song, A. J. and Overholt, W. A. (1997) Host location and acceptance by Cotesia flavipes and C. sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), parasitoids of African gramineous stemborers: Role of f rass and other host cues. Biol. Control 9, 136142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ngi-Song, A. J., Njagi, P. G. N., Torto, B. and Overholt, W. A. (2000) Identification of behaviourally active components from maize volatiles for the stemborer parasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Insect Sci. Applic. 20, 181189.Google Scholar
Noldus, L. P. J. J. (1989) Chemical espionage by parasitic wasps. How Trichogramma species exploit moth sex pheromone systems. PhD thesis, Wageningen Agricultural University.Google Scholar
Ochiel, S. (1989) Biology of Trichogramma species near exigum Pinto and Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on some lepidopterous hosts in South Nyanza. M.Phil, thesis. Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Ogol, C. K. P. O., Spence, J. R. and Keddie, A. (1998) Natural enemy abundance and activity in a maize-Lencaena agroforestry system in Kenya. Environ. Entomol. 27, 14441457.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oloo, G. W. (1989) The role of local natural enemies in population dynamics of Chilo partellus (Swinh) (Pyralidae) under subsistence farming systems in Kenya. Insect Set. Applic. 10, 243251.Google Scholar
Overholt, W. A., Ngi-Song, A. J., Omwega, C. O., Kimani-Njogu, S. W., Mbapila, J., Sallam, M. N. and Ofomata, V. (1997) A review of the introduction and establishment of Cotesia flavipes Cameron in East Africa for biological control of cereal stemborers. insect Sci. Applic. 17, 7988.Google Scholar
Pojaszek, A. and Kimani, S. W. (1990) Telenomus species (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) attacking eggs of pyralid pests (Lepidoptera) in Africa: A review and guide to identification. Bull. Entomol. Res. 80, 5771.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Polaszek, A. and Walker, A. K. (1991) The Cotesia flavipes species complex: Parasitoids of cereal stemborers in the tropics. Redia 74, 335341.Google Scholar
Polaszek, A., Ubeku, J. A. and Bosque-Pérez, N. A. (1993) Taxonomy of Telenomus busseolae species complex (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) egg parasitoid of cereal stemborers (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Pyralidae). Bull. Entomol. Res. 83, 221226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Polaszek, A., Fitton, M. G., Bianchi, G. and Huddleston, T. (1994) The parasites of the African white rice borer, Maliarpha separatella Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Bull. Entomol. Res. 84, 6590.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Polaszek, A. (Ed.) (1998a) African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control. CAB International, Wallingford, 530 pp.Google Scholar
Polaszek, A. (1998b) Bethylidae, pp. 133135. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by Polaszek, A.). CAB International, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Polaszek, A. and Kimani-Njogu, S. W. (1998) Scelionidae, pp. 259264. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by Polaszek, A.). CAB International, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Polaszek, A., LaSalle, J. and Jongema, Y. (1998) Chalcidoidea, pp. 191203. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by Polaszek, A.). CAB7 International, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Potting, R. P. J., Osae-Danso, F., Overholt, W. A. and Ngi-Song, A. J. (1993) Host selection in Cotesia flavipes, parasitoid of tropical stemborers. Proc. Exp. Appl. Entomol., N.E.V. Amsterdam. 4, 4752.Google Scholar
Potting, R. P. J., Overholt, W. A., Osae-Danso, F. O. and Takasu, K. (1997) Foraging behaviour and life history of the stemborer parasitoid Cotesia flavipes. J. Insect Behav. 10, 1329.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Potting, R. P. J., Vet, L. E. M. and Dicke, M. (1995) Host microhabitat location by stemborer parasitoid Cotesia flavipes: The role of herbivore volatiles and locally systemically induced plant volatiles, J. Chem. Ecol. 21, 525539.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Romeis, J., Thomas, S. G. and Zebitz, C. P. W. (1997) Volatile plant infochemicals mediate plant preference of Trichogramma chilonis. J. Chem. Ecol. 23, 24552465.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rutledge, C. E. and Wiedenmann, R. N. (1999) Habitat preferences of three congeneric braconid parasitoids: Implications for host-range testing in biological control. Biol. Control 16, 144154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seshu Reddy, K. V. (1989) Sorghum stem borers in Eastern Africa, pp. 3340. In International Workshop on Sorghum Stemborers. 17–20 Nov. 1987. ICRISAT, Patancheru, India.Google Scholar
Seshu Reddy, K. V. and Walker, P. T. (1990) A review of the yield losses in graminaceous crop caused by Chilo spp. Insect Sci. Applic. 11, 563569.Google Scholar
Skovgård, H. and Päts, P. (1996) Effects of intercropping on maize stemborers and their natural enemies. Bull. Entomol. Res. 86, 599607.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, J. W., Wiedenmann, R. N. and Overholt, W. A. (1993) Parasites of Lepidopteran Stemborers of Tropical Gramineous Plants. ICIPE Science Press, Nairobi. 81 pp.Google Scholar
Suverkropp, B. S. (1997) Host-finding behaviour of Trichogramma brassicae in maize. PhD Thesis, Wageningen Agricultural University.Google Scholar
Takabayashi, J., Noda, T. and Takahashi, S. (1991) Plants produce attractants for Apanteles kariyai, a parasitoid of Pseudaletia separata: cases of “communication” and “misunderstanding” in parasitoid-plant interactions. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 26, 237243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turlings, T. C. J., Loughrin, J. H., McCall, P. J., Röse, U. S. R., Lewis, W. J. and Tumlinson, J. H. (1995) How caterpillar-damaged plants protect themselves by attracting parasitic wasps. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 92, 41694174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vinson, S. B. (1984) How parasitoids locate their hosts: a case of espionage, pp. 325348. In Insect Communication (Edited by Lewis, T.). Academic Press, London. 414 pp.Google Scholar
Vet, L. E. M., Wäckers, F. L. and Dicke, M. (1991) How to hunt for hiding hosts: The reliability-detectability problem in foraging parasitoids. Neth. J. Zool. 41, 202– 213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vet, L. E. M. and Dicke, M. (1992) Ecology of infochemical use by natural enemies in a tritrophic context. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37, 141172.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wäckers, F. L., Mitter, E. and Dorn, S. (1998) Vibrational sounding by the pupal Pimpla (Coccygomimus) turionellae: An additional solution to the reliability-detectability problem. Biol. Control 11, 141146.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, A. K. (1994) Species of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing lepidopterous cereal stemborers in Africa. Bull. Entomol. Res. 84, 421434.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zwart, K. W. R. (1998) Ichneumonidae, pp. 205264. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by Polaszek, A.). CAB International, Wallingtord.Google Scholar