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Courtship Behavior in Relation to the Female Sex Pheromone in the Parasitoid, Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

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Abstract

Mating in the aphid parasitoid, Aphidius ervi, is mediated by sex pheromones. Virgin females produce pheromones that stimulate both upwind flight and elicit close-range courtship behavior by males. Field studies and laboratory bioassays demonstrated that time of day and adult age affect both the emission of, and receptivity to, the sex pheromones. In contrast, mating affected female pheromone production, but not male responsiveness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de biologie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, H2C 3T4, Canada

    Melanie McClure

  2. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, London, Ontario, N5V 4T3, Canada

    Jay Whistlecraft

  3. Biology Department, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada

    Jeremy N. McNeil

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  1. Melanie McClure
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  2. Jay Whistlecraft
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  3. Jeremy N. McNeil
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Correspondence to Jeremy N. McNeil.

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McClure, M., Whistlecraft, J. & McNeil, J.N. Courtship Behavior in Relation to the Female Sex Pheromone in the Parasitoid, Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). J Chem Ecol 33, 1946–1959 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-007-9355-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-007-9355-5

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