Response of Meteorus leviventris, (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to mustard oils in field trapping experiments

Abstract

Trapping experiments were carried out near Saskatoon, Canada, from May through August 1990 to assess the response of the braconid wasp, Meteorus leviventris, to four selected mustard oils or isothiocyanates (IC) at a release rate of 4 mg/day, and for allyl IC only, at 40 mg/day. Only allyl IC at 4 mg/day was significantly attractive when trap captures were compared to the captures in the control traps. The others (n-propyl IC, 2-phenylethyl IC., and ethyl IC) were not attractive, nor was allyl IC at the higher dose, although trap captures with the latter bait were the second highest. © 1993 Plenum Publishing Corporation.