In‐flight orientation to volatiles from the plant‐host complex in Cotesia rubecula (Hym.: Braconidae): increased sensitivity through olfactory experience

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Abstract
Plasticity in in‐flight orientation to odours from the plant‐host complex (PHC: plant infested by the host) was investigated in Cotesia rubecula , a specialist larval parasitoid of Pieris rapae which feeds almost exclusively upon cruciferous plants. A wind tunnel was used to study effects of both concentration of volatile emissions and females' experience. A low proportion of naive wasps located weak odourant sources, i.e. either a single cabbage leaf or a leaf with two first stadium P.rapae larvae. This rate could be elevated by increasing the odour concentration or by providing the wasps with either a previous oviposition experience on the PHC or an exposure to the PHC odour. Previous oviposition on washed larvae (diet‐fed, starved and then rinsed with distilled water) in an odourless environment had no effect, which suggested that increased sensitivity to the PHC odour resulted from olfactory experience. The number of mature eggs in a female was affected by oviposition on the PHC or washed larvae but not by exposure to the PHC odour. Therefore the number of mature eggs available was not correlated to the observed differences in orientation behaviour. Possible mechanisms of the behavioural changes described are discussed in the light of the host specificities of C.rubecula and P.rapae.

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