Olfactory responses of parasitoid wasp Habrobracon hebetor to volatile compounds of host insect and pomegranate fruit under laboratory conditions

Foraging natural enemies rely on semiochemicals from a plant-host complex for recognition and acceptance of host, thus, key compounds that mediate behavioral response of parasitoids must be identified. We studied the choice time and olfactory responses of Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) females to the host odors, the Carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae, pomegranate fruit and extracted hexane associated with them performed by passing a stream of air in a Y-shaped olfactomete. The treatments were last instar larvae of carob moth, its faeces, infested pomegranate and pomegranate with mechanical damages. The results showed that H.hebetorpreferred carob moth larvae and its faeces. There was significant difference of parasitoids choice time between pomegranate with mechanical damages and other treatment. The results of extracted hexane odor indicated that, the odors spread from the larvae, its faeces and infectrd pomegranate exhibited significant differences in wasp attraction, comparewith the clean air. Based on the results and complementary information on detection of the effective attractants of the parasitoid wasps, the efficacy of the wasp can be increased in the field.