Chem. Senses 28: 231-236,
2003
© Oxford University Press 2003
Associative Learning of Complex Odours in Parasitoid Host Location
1 Institut für Biologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Haderslebener Str. 9, D-12163 Berlin, Germany, 2 NIOO CTE, PO Box 40, 6666 ZG Heteren, The Netherlands 3 USDA-ARS-IBPMRL, PO Box 748, Tifton, GA 31793, USA
Correspondence to be sent to: Torsten Meiners, Angewandte Zoologie/Oekologie der Tiere, Haderslebener Str. 9, D-12163 Berlin, Germany. e-mail: meito{at}zedat.fu-berlin.de
In this paper we address the question how hymenopteran parasitoids deal with complex odour bouquets, using Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a model. We examined the capacity of Microplitis croceipes to respond to individual compounds in flight chamber experiments after conditioning parasitoids with a mixture consisting of 2-octanone, methyl jasmonate and ß-caryophyllene. Parasitoids were given a choice between single compounds from the training mixture and ß-ocimene as an unrewarded alternative. When compared with control individuals lacking experience with the odour mixture, parasitoids trained to the odour blend showed an increased preference for 2-octanone and ß-caryophyllene, but not for methyl jasmonate. However, when trained with methyl jasmonate alone, parasitoids were able to respond to this compound. This demonstrates that parasitoids can learn to respond to individual compounds following experience with an odour mixture. However, for certain compounds of a mixture, learning can be blocked by other mixture components. Further experiments in which parasitoids were conditioned and challenged with two compound mixes confirmed that the olfactory background can affect recognition of individual compounds.
Key words: background odour, complex blends, insect learning, mixture recognition, plant volatiles
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. P. Cunningham, C. J Moore, M. P Zalucki, and B. W Cribb Insect odour perception: recognition of odour components by flower foraging moths Proc R Soc B, August 22, 2006; 273(1597): 2035 - 2040. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J.-N. Wei and L. Kang Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of a Parasitic Wasp to Plant Volatiles Induced by Two Leaf Miner Species Chem Senses, June 1, 2006; 31(5): 467 - 477. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Collatz, C. Muller, and J. L.M. Steidle Protein synthesis-dependent long-term memory induced by one single associative training trial in the parasitic wasp Lariophagus distinguendus. Learn. Mem., May 1, 2006; 13(3): 263 - 266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. D'Alessandro and T. C.J. Turlings In Situ Modification of Herbivore-Induced Plant Odors: A Novel Approach to Study the Attractiveness of Volatile Organic Compounds to Parasitic Wasps Chem Senses, November 1, 2005; 30(9): 739 - 753. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|