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Size, shape and hue modulate attraction and landing responses of the braconid parasitoid Fopius arisanus to fruit odour-baited visual targets

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Abstract

Female parasitoids are guided by multisensory information, including chemical and physical cues during host location. In the present study, we investigated the behavioural responses of naïve Fopius arisanus (Sonan) females to visual targets baited with guava odour. In non-choice wind tunnel tests, the attraction and landing responses of parasitoids to spheres painted with different colours, and targets of different shapes and sizes were evaluated. Females were more frequently attracted and landed more often on dark yellow targets than on targets with other colours. There was no correlation between the brightness of each colour and the attraction or landing responses. In contrast, both responses were correlated with relative reflectance (hue) of the coloured targets. A positive correlation was observed between attraction and hue, and a negative correlation between landing and hue. F. arisanus was attracted to and landed more often on spheres than on other shape models. The attraction response of this parasitoid was affected by the size of the targets, with spheres of 10 and 12 cm diameter being more attractive than spheres of 8, 6 and 4 cm diameter. The fact that F. arisanus females were able to discriminate among visual targets that differ in colour, shape and size stresses the importance of vision during host location by this species.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the technical assistance of Florida López (PROGRAMA MOSCAFRUT) and Armando Virgen (ECOSUR). Rosalba Morales provided logistic support. Many thanks go to Javier Valle Mora for statistical advice and Francisco Infante and Trevor Williams for a critical review of a previous version of the manuscript. J. Pérez gives special thanks to El Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) of Mexico for the doctoral scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto km 2.5, 30700, Tapachula, Chiapas, México

    Jeanneth Pérez, Julio C. Rojas, Pablo Liedo & Alfredo Castillo

  2. Subdirección de Desarrollo de Métodos, Programa Moscas de la Fruta DGSV SAGARPA, Central Poniente 14, 30700, Tapachula, Chiapas, México

    Pablo Montoya

  3. Coordinación para la Innovación y la Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2da. Sección, 78210, San Luis Potosí, SLP, México

    Francisco J. González

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  1. Jeanneth Pérez
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  2. Julio C. Rojas
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  3. Pablo Montoya
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  4. Pablo Liedo
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  5. Francisco J. González
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  6. Alfredo Castillo
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Correspondence to Jeanneth Pérez.

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Handling Editor: Torsten Meiners

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Pérez, J., Rojas, J.C., Montoya, P. et al. Size, shape and hue modulate attraction and landing responses of the braconid parasitoid Fopius arisanus to fruit odour-baited visual targets. BioControl 57, 405–414 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-011-9416-0

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