Abstract
Postemergence experience with one of six plant species, in the presence of the host larva, modified the searching response of reproductively mature females of Cotesia congregata(Say) to these plants in at least one of three ways: (1) an increased response to the plant experienced at emergence, (2) an increased response to other plants, or (3) an inhibited response to other plants. Landing and searching responses were differentially affected by postemergence experience. For example, postemergence experience with tobacco (a common plant) in the presence of the host larva induced a landing preference for this plant over parsley (a novel plant) but did not affect searching responses to either plant, whereas experience with parsley and the host larva induced an increased searching response to parsley but a landing preference for tobacco. Differential effects of postemergence experience may reflect the type of stimuli involved in searching or landing and may have adaptive significance.
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Kester, K.M., Barbosa, P. Effects of postemergence experience on searching and landing responses of the insect parasitoid,Cotesia congregata (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), to plants. J Insect Behav 5, 301–320 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049840
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01049840