Host location by the parasitoid, Nasonia vitripennis Walker (Hymenoptera : Pteromalidae)

Successful reproduction for parasitoids encompasses a series of behavioral steps commonly defined as host-habitat location, host location, host acceptance and host regulation. Successful host location, where resources are patchily distributed within the environment, is dependent on the information value of stimuli used in the host location process. Chemical cues produced by either the host itself, products derived from the host play an important role in host location.

This study investigated the role of odorant cues used during host location by the generalist parasitoid, Nasonia vitripennis Walker. N vitripennis is a common parasitoid of Dipteran pupae found in association with decaying carrion. The biological activity of eight of the volatile molecules constituting the odour of pupae were tested on the searching behavior of parasitoid females through chemoecological approache: olfactometry bioassays.