Semiochemical Exploitation of Host-Associated Cues by Seven Melittobia Parasitoid Species: Behavioral and Phylogenetic Implications
Chemical compounds (infochemicals or semiochemicals) play an important role both in intra-specific and inter-specific communication. For example, chemical cues appear to play a key role in the host selection process adopted by insect parasitoids. In recent years significant advances have been made i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2017.00172/full |
| _version_ | 1819181352495349760 |
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| author | Jorge M. González Dakota Camino Sabrina Simon Antonino Cusumano |
| author_facet | Jorge M. González Dakota Camino Sabrina Simon Antonino Cusumano |
| author_sort | Jorge M. González |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chemical compounds (infochemicals or semiochemicals) play an important role both in intra-specific and inter-specific communication. For example, chemical cues appear to play a key role in the host selection process adopted by insect parasitoids. In recent years significant advances have been made in order to understand the chemical ecology of insect parasitoids. However, little information is available about the evolution of semiochemical use in the host location process of insect parasitoids. Here we investigated the strategy adopted by seven closely related parasitoid species in the genus Melittobia when foraging for four different suitable hosts. By using an integrated approach that combined olfactometer bioassays and phylogenetic investigations, we found that: (1) exploitation of host-derived semiochemicals is widespread in the Melittobia genus; (2) there is specificity of attraction toward the different host species tested; in particular, the early-branching species in the Melittobia genus are attracted to odors associated with leaf cutting bees (Megachile rotundata) whereas the most-diverged species are attracted to odors associated with solitary mud dauber wasps (Trypoxyilon politum). Regardless of the phylogenetic relationships, no Melittobia species exhibited attraction toward odors of factitious laboratory hosts (i.e., the flesh fly Sarcophaga bullata). Interestingly, five Melittobia species are also attracted by odors associated with honeybees hosts which indicate that these parasitoids could be potential pests of honeybees. Our study shed light on the host location within the Melittobia genus and represents a first attempt to understand semiochemical use in an evolutionary perspective in the context of parasitoids' foraging behavior. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T22:28:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f0389ab8b7f44bc68fedfbf048c7b0c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T22:28:52Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-f0389ab8b7f44bc68fedfbf048c7b0c32022-12-21T18:10:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2018-01-01510.3389/fevo.2017.00172319836Semiochemical Exploitation of Host-Associated Cues by Seven Melittobia Parasitoid Species: Behavioral and Phylogenetic ImplicationsJorge M. González0Dakota Camino1Sabrina Simon2Antonino Cusumano3Department of Plant Sciences, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA, United StatesDepartment of Plant Sciences, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA, United StatesBiosystematics Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsLaboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsChemical compounds (infochemicals or semiochemicals) play an important role both in intra-specific and inter-specific communication. For example, chemical cues appear to play a key role in the host selection process adopted by insect parasitoids. In recent years significant advances have been made in order to understand the chemical ecology of insect parasitoids. However, little information is available about the evolution of semiochemical use in the host location process of insect parasitoids. Here we investigated the strategy adopted by seven closely related parasitoid species in the genus Melittobia when foraging for four different suitable hosts. By using an integrated approach that combined olfactometer bioassays and phylogenetic investigations, we found that: (1) exploitation of host-derived semiochemicals is widespread in the Melittobia genus; (2) there is specificity of attraction toward the different host species tested; in particular, the early-branching species in the Melittobia genus are attracted to odors associated with leaf cutting bees (Megachile rotundata) whereas the most-diverged species are attracted to odors associated with solitary mud dauber wasps (Trypoxyilon politum). Regardless of the phylogenetic relationships, no Melittobia species exhibited attraction toward odors of factitious laboratory hosts (i.e., the flesh fly Sarcophaga bullata). Interestingly, five Melittobia species are also attracted by odors associated with honeybees hosts which indicate that these parasitoids could be potential pests of honeybees. Our study shed light on the host location within the Melittobia genus and represents a first attempt to understand semiochemical use in an evolutionary perspective in the context of parasitoids' foraging behavior.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2017.00172/fullinfochemicalsparasitic waspshost location processHymenopteraEulophidae |
| spellingShingle | Jorge M. González Dakota Camino Sabrina Simon Antonino Cusumano Semiochemical Exploitation of Host-Associated Cues by Seven Melittobia Parasitoid Species: Behavioral and Phylogenetic Implications Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution infochemicals parasitic wasps host location process Hymenoptera Eulophidae |
| title | Semiochemical Exploitation of Host-Associated Cues by Seven Melittobia Parasitoid Species: Behavioral and Phylogenetic Implications |
| title_full | Semiochemical Exploitation of Host-Associated Cues by Seven Melittobia Parasitoid Species: Behavioral and Phylogenetic Implications |
| title_fullStr | Semiochemical Exploitation of Host-Associated Cues by Seven Melittobia Parasitoid Species: Behavioral and Phylogenetic Implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Semiochemical Exploitation of Host-Associated Cues by Seven Melittobia Parasitoid Species: Behavioral and Phylogenetic Implications |
| title_short | Semiochemical Exploitation of Host-Associated Cues by Seven Melittobia Parasitoid Species: Behavioral and Phylogenetic Implications |
| title_sort | semiochemical exploitation of host associated cues by seven melittobia parasitoid species behavioral and phylogenetic implications |
| topic | infochemicals parasitic wasps host location process Hymenoptera Eulophidae |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2017.00172/full |
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