Behavioral Responses of Male Parasitic Wasps to Plant Cues: A Comparison of Two Host-Plant Complex Sources of Cotesia congregata (Say)

Author

Megan AyersFollow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/D6SM-K525

Defense Date

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Karen M. Kester

Abstract

Prior exposure to plants cues can enhance assortative mating in insects. We hypothesized that, as previously reported for females, males of Cotesia congregata would display inherent responses to plant cues that could be modified by postemergence experience and further, that males originating from two different host-plant complexes (HPCs) would display different behavioral responses to these HPCs. In no-choice contact assays with a non-host plant, searching responses of males and females increased sharply at Day 2 and remained stable through Day 4. In no-choice assays with potential host plants, males searched longer on catalpa than tobacco; responses were not modified by postemergence experience. In choice assays with both HPCs, naïve males did not display orientation preferences; however, males experienced with their natal plant preferred their natal HPC. Results indicate that postemergence experience on the natal host plant induces an orientation preference for the natal HPC and thus, can facilitate assortative mating.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

5-8-2015