Saturated hydrocarbons as kairomonal source for the egg parasitoid, <i>Trichogramma chilonis</i> Ishii (Hym., Trichogrammatidae)

Abstract

Abstract: Studies on the effect of saturated hydrocarbons on parasitization by the egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis Ishii were carried out in the laboratory and net house. Bioassay of 11 hydrocarbons, viz. pentadecane, heptadecane, ecosane, heneicosane, docosane, tricosane, tetracosane, pentacosane, hexacosane, octacosane and hexatriacontane, were carried out under controlled conditions in the laboratory. These were also tested on potted maize plants in a net house. Among the saturated hydrocarbons, octacosane recorded the highest parasitoid activity index followed by docosane and tricosane. However, tricosane caused the highest percentage of parasitization, which was at par with octacosane and docosane. A positive correlation was found between concentration and kairomonal activity only in case of tricosane. In the net house, tricosane recorded the highest parasitization. Response of the parasitoid to egg cards treated with hydrocarbons decreased with increase in distance between the release point and host eggs. No parasitization was observed in host eggs placed at 8 m and 10 m away from the point of release except in the case of tricosane and pentacosane.