Learning of Plant's Contact Chemicals by the Egg-Larval Parasitoid, Ascogaster reticulatus WATANABE (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract

The learning abilities of females of Ascogaster reticulatus [A. reticulata] were determined following exposure to methanol extracts from mulberry leaves, a novel plant. The results showed that females were able to respond to chemical(s) which are not normally associated with host eggs. Once A. reticulata learned the plant chemical after 3 experiences, they responded to it after 24 h to a lesser degree, and did not respond at all after 48 h. It was concluded that the ability of A. reticulata to learn plant contact chemical(s) associated with oviposition may help females make quick decisions on whether to search for potential hosts or not after landing on a specific plant.