A SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE BIOASSAY TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF PLANT SURFACE CHEMICALS ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF TRICHOGRAMMA SPP

摘要

A simple and effective filter paper test was developed to study the role of plant surface chemicals on the searching and parasitization behaviour of Trichogramma spp.. First results have shown that Trichogramma chilonis Ishii is repelled by hexane- and acetone-extracts of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) leaf surface, a host plant on which parasitized eggs of a preferred host, Helicoverpa armigera(Hubner), are rarely found.