Recognition of foreign oviposition-marking pheromone in a multi-trophic context

Both phytophagous and parasitic insects deposit oviposition-marking pheromones (OMPs) following oviposition that function to inform conspecifics of a previously utilized host of reduced suitability. The blueberry maggot fly, Rhagoletis mendax Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), deposits eggs individually...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Die Naturwissenschaften 2009-05, Vol.96 (5), p.585-592
Main Authors: Stelinski, L. L, Rodriguez-Saona, C, Meyer, W. L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Braconidae
Conspecifics
Deposits
Diachasma alloeum
Diptera
Diptera - physiology
Ecosystem
Eggs
Environment
Female
Foraging kairomone
Fruit - parasitology
Fruits
Host marking
Hymenoptera
Larva - physiology
Learning - physiology
Life Sciences
New Jersey
Omp protein
Original Paper
Oviposition
Oviposition - physiology
Oviposition-marking pheromone
Parasitoid
Pheromones
Pheromones - physiology
Pupa - physiology
Recognition (Psychology)
Rhagoletis mendax
Tephritidae
Tephritidae - physiology
Trophic levels
Vaccinium
Wasps - physiology
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Summary:Both phytophagous and parasitic insects deposit oviposition-marking pheromones (OMPs) following oviposition that function to inform conspecifics of a previously utilized host of reduced suitability. The blueberry maggot fly, Rhagoletis mendax Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), deposits eggs individually into blueberries and then marks the fruit surface with an OMP which reduces acceptance of fruit for oviposition by conspecifics. Diachasma alloeum (Muesebeck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a parasitic wasp attacking larval R. mendax which also deposits an OMP, signaling conspecifics of a wasp-occupied host. Behavioral studies were conducted testing the hypothesis that the OMP of the parasitic wasp modifies the oviposition behavior of its host fly. In this study, we show that the OMP of D. alloeum is recognized by R. mendax, and female flies will reject wasp-marked fruit for oviposition. Thus, we present a rare demonstration of pheromonal recognition between animals occupying different taxonomic orders and trophic levels. This chemical eavesdropping may enhance the ability of the fly to avoid fruit unsuitable for larval development.
ISSN:0028-1042
1432-1904
DOI:10.1007/s00114-009-0507-z