Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Chemical Ecology of Host Location by Parasitoids of African Stemborers

  • Research Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During foraging, parasitoids of insect herbivores are aided by chemical compounds generally termed ‘infochemicals’, to locate their hosts. The origin of the infochemicals varies; they may be derived from the herbivore itseif or activities related to the biology of the herbivore, the host plant, or from interactions between the plant and the herbivore. This paper reviews the status of research in this area, and presents an account of the infochemicals used by African stemborer parasitoids during foraging, as well as recommending possible areas for further investigation. The information generated has potential for application in behaviour modification of parasitoids species in biological control programmes.

Résumé

Lors de la recherche de l’hôte les parasitoïdes des insectes herbivores s’orientent grâce à certains composés chimiques volatiles appelés ‘infochemicals’. L’origine de ces composés chimiques est variable. Ils proviennent soit de l’hôte lui-même, soit des activités en relation avec la biologie de l’hôte, de la plante hôte, ou de l’interaction entre les deux. Cet article revise le statut des recherches dans ce domaine. Il présente une liste des composés chimiques utilisés par les parasitoïdes des foreurs africains lors de la recherche de l’hôte et suggère des thèmes de recherches futures. Les informations générées ici ont un potentiel d’application dans les programmes de lutte biologique dans le cadre de la modification des comportements des espèces de parasitoïdes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achterberg, C. van and Polaszek A., (1996) The parasites of cereal stemborers (Lepidotera: Cossidae, Crambidae, Noctuidae, Pyralidae) in Africa, belonging to the family Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea). Zoologische verhandélingen 304, 1–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Achterberg, C. van and Walker, A.K. (1998) Braconidae, pp. 137–185. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by A. Polaszek). CAB Idnternational, Wallingford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altieri, M. A., Lewis, J. W., Nordlund, D. A., Gueldner, R. C. and Todd, J. A. (1981) Chemical interactions between plants and Trichogramma wasps in Georgia soybean fields. Protection Ecol. 3, 259–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohhof, M. J., Overholt, W. A., van Huis, A. and Polaszek, A. (1997) Natural enemies of cereal stemborers in East Africa: A review. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 19–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosque-Pérez, N.A. and Schulthess, F. (1998) Maize: West and Central Africa, pp. 11–24. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by A. Polaszek). CAB International, Wallingford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chinwada, P. and Overholt, W. A. (2001) Natural enemies of maize stemborers on the highveld of Zimbabwe. African Entomol. 9, 67–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conlong, D. E. (1997) Biological control of Eldana saccharina Walker in South African sugarcane: Constraints identified from 15 years of research. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 69–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conlong, D. E., Graham, D. Y. and Hastings, H. (1988) Notes on the natural host surveys and laboratory rearing of Goniozus natalensis Gordh (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), a parasitoid of Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Proc. S. Afr. Sugar Technol, Assoc. 58, 168–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortesero, A. M., Stapel, J. O. and Lewis, W. J. (2000) Understanding and manipulating plant attributes to enhance biological control. Biol. Control 17, 35–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costello, M. J. and Altieri, M. A. (1995) Abundance, growth rate and parasitism of Brevicoryne brassicae and Myzus persicele (Homoptera: Aphididae) on broccoli grown in living mulches. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 52, 187–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dicke, M. and Sabelis, M. W. (1988) Infochemical terminology: should it be based on cost-benefit analysis rather than origin of compounds. Fune. Ecol. 2, 131–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dicke, M. and Vet, L. E. M. (1999) Plant-carnivore interactions: evolutionary and ecological consequences for plant, herbivore and carnivore, pp. 483–520. In Herbivores Between Plants and Predators (Edited by H. Olff, V. K. Brown and, R. H. Drent). Blackwell Science, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Moraes, C. M., Mescher, M. C. and Tumlinson, J. H. (2001) Caterpillar-induced nocturnal plant volatiles repel conspecific females. Nature 410, 577–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greathead, D. J. (1990) Utilization of natural enemies of Chilo spp. for management in Africa. Insect Sci. Applic. 11, 749–755.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, K. M. (1962) Lepidopterous stemborers of cereals in Nigeria. Bull. Entomol. Res. 53, 139–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, K. M. (1998) Diptera, pp. 265–281. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by A. Polaszek). CAB International, Wallingford

    Google Scholar 

  • Hailemichael, Y., Smith Jr. J. W. and Wiedenmann, R. N. (1994) Host-finding behaviour, host acceptance and host suitability of the parasite Xanthopimpla stemmator. Entomol Exp. Appl. 71, 155–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, A. and Baldwin, I. (2001) Defensive function of herbivore-induced plant volatile emissions in nature. Science 291, 2141–2144.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kfir, R. (1990) Parasites of the spotted stalk borer Chilo Partellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in South Africa Entomophaga 35, 403–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kfir, R. (1992) Seasonal abundance of stemborer Chilo Partellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and its parasites on summer grain crops. J. Econ. Entomol. 85, 518–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kfir, R. (1995) Parasitoids of the African stemborer Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in South Africa. Bull. Entomol. Res. 85, 369–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kfir, R. (1997) Natural control of the cereal stemborers Busseola fusca and Chilo Partellus in South Africa. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 61–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kfir, R. and Bell, R. (1993) Intraseasonal changes in populations of the African maize stemborer sseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Natal, South Africa. Rev. Zool. Afr. 107, 543–553.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan, Z. R., Ampong-Nyarko, K., Chiliswa, P., Hassanali, A., Kimani, S., Lwande, W. Overholt, W. A., Pickett, J. A., Smart, L. E., Wadhams, L. J. and Woodcock, C. (1997a) Intercropping increases parasitism. Nature 388, 631–632.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, Z. R., Chiliswa, P., Ampong-Nyarko, K., Smart, L. E., Polaszek, A., Wandera, J. and Mulaa, M. A. (1997b) Utilisation of wild gramineous plants for the management of cereal stemborers in Africa. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 143–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimani, S. W. and Overholt, W. A. (1995) Biosystematics of the Cotesia flavipes Cameron complex (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Interspecific hybridisation, sex pheromone and mating behaviour studies. Bull. Entomol. Res. 85, 379–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LePelley, H. (1959) Agricultural Insects of East Africa. East African High Commission. 307 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathez, F. C. (1972) Chilo Partellus Swinh., C. orichalcociliellus Strand (Lep.: Crambidae) and Sesamia calamistis Hmps (Lep.: Noctuidae) on maize in the Coast Province, Kenya. Mitt. Schweiz. Gesellschaft 45, 267–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milner, J. E. D. (1967) Final report on survey of the parasites of graminaceous stemborers in East Africa. Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control (unpublished).

    Google Scholar 

  • Minja, E. M. (1990) Management of Chilo spp. infesting cereals in Eastern Africa. Insect Sci. Applic. 11, 489–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohyuddin, A. I. (1972) Distribution, biology and ecology of Dentichasmias busseolae Heinr. (Hym., Ichneumonidae), a pupal parasite of graminaceous stemborers (Lep., Pyralidae). Bull. Entomol. Res. 62, 161–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohyuddin, A. I (1990) Biological control of Citilo spp. in maize, sorghum and millet. Insect Sci. Applic. 11, 721–732.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohyuddin, A. I. and Greathead, D. J. (1970) An annotated list of the parasites of graminaceous stemborers in East Africa with a discussion of their potential in biological control. Entomophaga 15, 241–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ngi-Song, A. J. and Overholt, W. A. (1995) Host selection by Cotesia flavipes and Cotesia sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): an example of tritrophic relationship in a grass-stemborer parasitoid system, pp. 172–181. In Intergrating Biological Control and Host Plant Resistance. Proceedings of a CTA/IAR/IIBC Seminar 9–14 October 1995, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ngi-Song, A. J., Overholt, W. A. and Ayertey, J. N. (1995) Suitability of African gramineous stemborers for development of Cotesia flavipes and C. sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Environ. Entomol. 24, 972–984.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ngi-Song, A. J., Overholt, W. A., Njagi, P. G. N., Dicke, M., Ayertey, J. N. and Lwande, W. (1996) Volatile infochemicals used in host and host habitat location by Cotesia flavipes Cameron and Cotesia sesamiae Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), larval parasitoids of stemborers on graminae. J. Chem. Ecol. 22, 307–323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ngi-Song, A. J. and Overholt, W. A. (1997) Host location and acceptance by Cotesia flavipes and C. sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), parasitoids of African gramineous stemborers: Role of f rass and other host cues. Biol. Control 9, 136–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ngi-Song, A. J., Njagi, P. G. N., Torto, B. and Overholt, W. A. (2000) Identification of behaviourally active components from maize volatiles for the stemborer parasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Insect Sci. Applic. 20, 181–189.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noldus, L. P. J. J. (1989) Chemical espionage by parasitic wasps. How Trichogramma species exploit moth sex pheromone systems. PhD thesis, Wageningen Agricultural University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ochiel, S. (1989) Biology of Trichogramma species near exigum Pinto and Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on some lepidopterous hosts in South Nyanza. M.Phil, thesis. Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogol, C. K. P. O., Spence, J. R. and Keddie, A. (1998) Natural enemy abundance and activity in a maize-Leucaena agroforestry system in Kenya. Environ. Entomol. 27, 1444–1457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oloo, G. W. (1989) The role of local natural enemies in population dynamics of Chilo Partellus (Swinh) (Pyralidae) under subsistence farming systems in Kenya. Insect Sci. Applic. 10, 243–251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Overholt, W. A., Ngi-Song, A. J., Omwega, C. O., Kimani-Njogu S. W., Mbapila, J., Sallam, M. N. and Ofomata, V. (1997) A review of the introduction and establishment of Cotesia flavipes Cameron in East Africa for biological control of cereal stemborers. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 79–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pojaszek, A. and Kimani, S. W. (1990) Telenomus species (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) attacking eggs of pyralid pests (Lepidoptera) in Africa: A review and guide to identification. Bull. Entomol. Res. 80, 57–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polaszek, A. and Walker, A. K. (1991) The Cotesia flavipes species complex: Parasitoids of cereal stemborers in the tropics. Redia 74, 335–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polaszek, A., Ubeku, J. A. and Bosque-Pérez, N. A. (1993) Taxonomy of Telenomus busseolae species complex (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) egg parasitoid of cereal stemborers (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Pyralidae). Bull. Entomol. Res. 83, 221–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polaszek, A., Fitton M.-G., Bianchi, G. and Huddleston, T. (1994) The parasites of the African white rice borer, Maliarpha separatella Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Bull. Entomol. Res. 84, 65–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polaszek, A. (Ed.) (1998a) African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control. CAB International, Wallingford, 530 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polaszek, A. (1998b) Bethylidae, pp. 133–135. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by A. Polaszek). CAB International, Wallingford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polaszek, A. and Kimani-Njogu, S. W. (1998) Scelionidae, pp. 259–264. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by A. Polaszek). CAB International, Wallingford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polaszek, A., LaSalle, J. and Jongema, Y. (1998) Chalcidoidea, pp. 191–203. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by A. Polaszek). CAB7 International, Wallingford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potting, R. P. J., Osae-Danso, F., Overholt, W. A. and Ngi-Song, A. J. (1993) Host selection in Cotesia flavipes, parasitoid of tropical stemborers. Proc. Exp. Appl. Entomol, N.E.V. Amsterdam. 4, 47–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potting, R. P. J., Overholt, W. A., Osae-Danso, F. O. and Takasu, K. (1997) Foraging behaviour and life history of the stemborer parasitoid Cotesia flavipes. J. Insect Behav. 10, 13–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Potting, R. P. J., Vet, L. E. M. and Dicke, M. (1995) Host microhabitat location by stemborer parasitoid Cotesia flavipes: The role of herbivore volatiles and locally systemically induced plant volatiles. J. Chem. Ecol. 21, 525–539.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romeis, J., Thomas, S. G. and Zebitz, C. P. W (1997) Volatile plant infochemicals mediate plant preference of Trichogramma chilonis. J. Chem. Ecol. 23, 2455–2465.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rutledge, C. E. and Wiedenmann, R. N. (1999) Habitat pbl]References of three congeneric braconid parasitoids: Implications for host-range testing in biological control. Biol. Control 16, 144–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seshu Reddy, K. V. (1989) Sorghum stem borers in Eastern Africa, pp. 33–40. In International Workshop on Sorghum Stemborers. 17–20 Nov. 1987. ICRISAT, Patancheru, India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seshu Reddy, K. V. and Walker, P. T. (1990) A review of the yield losses in graminaceous crop caused by Chilo spp. Insect Sci. Applic. 11, 563–569.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skovgârd, H. and Päts, P. (1996) Effects of intercropping on maize stemborers and their natural enemies. Bull. Entomol. Res. 86, 599–607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. W., Wiedenmann, R. N. and Overholt, W. A. (1993) Parasites of Lepidopteran Stemborers of Tropical Gramineous Plants. ICIPE Science Press, Nairobi. 81 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suverkropp, B. S. (1997) Host-finding behaviour of Trichogramma brassicae in maize. PhD Thesis, Wageningen Agricultural University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takabayashi, J., Noda, T. and Takahashi, S. (1991) Plants produce attractants for Apanteles kariyai, a parasitoid of Pseudaletia separata: cases of “communication” and “misunderstanding” in parasitoid-plant interactions. Appl. Entomol. Zool. 26, 237–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turlings, T. C. J., Loüghrin, J. H., McCall, P. J., Rose, U. S. R., Lewis, W. J. and Tumlinson, J. H. (1995) How caterpillar-damaged plants protect themselves by attracting parasitic wasps. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 92, 4169–4174.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vinson, S. B (1984) How parasitoids locate their hosts: a case of espionage, pp. 325–348. In Insect Communication (Edited by T. Lewis). Academic Press, London. 414 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vet, L. E. M., Wäckers, F. L. and Dicke, M. (1991) How to hunt for hiding hosts: The reliability-detectability problem in foraging parasitoids. Neth. J. Zool. 41, 202–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vet, L. E. M. and Dicke, M. (1992) Ecology of infochemical use by natural enemies in a tritrophic context. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37, 141–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wäckers, F. L., Mitter, E. and Dorn, S. (1998) Vibrational sounding by the pupal Pimpla (Coccygomimus) turionellae: An additional solution to the reliability-detectability problem. Biol. Control 11, 141–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, A. K. (1994) Species of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizing lepidópterous cereal stemborers in Africa. Bull. Entomol. Res. 84, 421–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zwart, K. W. R. (1998) Ichneumonidae, pp. 205–264. In African Cereal Stemborers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by A. Polaszek). CAB International, Wallingrord.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Production and Seed Technology, Moi University, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya

    Linnet S. Gohole

  2. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya

    Linnet S. Gohole & Adele J. Ngi-Song

Authors
  1. Linnet S. Gohole
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adele J. Ngi-Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adele J. Ngi-Song.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gohole, L.S., Ngi-Song, A.J. The Chemical Ecology of Host Location by Parasitoids of African Stemborers. Int J Trop Insect Sci 21, 361–368 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400008468

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400008468

Key Words

Mots Clés

Search

Navigation