Role of Kairomone in Parasitization Efficiency of Larval Parasitoid Apanteles taprobene Cameron (Hynr. Braconidae), in Buzura suppressaria a Lepidopteran Pest of Tea

摘要

The role of host frass material in host finding by parasitoid Apanteles taprobanae was studied. Successful oviposition of parasitoids in the second instar looper caterpillar, Buzura suppressaria without frass material was observed only in 33.3% cases, whereas with the frass materials oviposition was recorded in 80% caterpillars. Second instar Corcyra cephalonica larvae without any larval frass of primary host were not parasitized by A. taprobanae. Similar results were observed when C. cephalonica was retained with in its own gallery and exposed to parasitoid, but when C. cephalonica larvae were kept within the larval frass of 2nd instar looper caterpillar nearly 60% of them were parasitized. It is therefore evident that certain chemical substances (Kairomone) emitted from the larval frass of looper caterpillar served as prime factor in host searching and oviposition behavior of the parasitoid and by manipulating these kairomones it was possible to rear the parasitoids on alternate host.