Approaches for assessing the impact of Zea mays (Poaceae) on the behavior of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its parasitoid Cotesia marginiventris (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Authors

  • Anna Block USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1689-4005
  • Jorrel Mendoza USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA
  • Amy Rowley USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA
  • Charles Stuhl USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4697-5922
  • Robert L Meagher USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, 1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2769-1043

Abstract

Plant derived volatiles are cues used widely that guide the behavior of plant associated insects, influencing both the ability of insects to locate host plants, as well as tritrophic interactions with predators or parasitoids. Therefore, an understanding of how volatiles impact a specific ecological system may aid the development of plants that are less attractive to pests or more amenable to biocontrol. Because each plant-insect interaction is different, it is important to develop bioassays to compare plants with different volatile profiles and assess their comparative attractiveness to specific insects. To this end, we developed a laboratory-based pair-wise choice assay to determine the oviposition preference of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a global crop pest, to maize, Zea mays L. (Poaceae) plants with different volatile profiles. An alternative greenhouse-based assay also was developed to assess the effect of different Z. mays plants on the oviposition behavior of Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid wasp that can be used as a biocontrol agent for S. frugiperda. These bioassays are easily adaptable for use on a range of plant-insect interactions.

Resumen

Los volátiles derivados de plantas son señales que se utilizan ampliamente para guiar el comportamiento de los insectos asociados a las plantas, lo que influye tanto en la capacidad de los insectos para localizar plantas hospederas como en las interacciones tritróficas con depredadores o parasitoides. Por lo tanto, la comprensión de cómo los volátiles impactan en un sistema ecológico específico puede ayudar al desarrollo de plantas que son menos atractivas para las plagas o más abierto para control biológico. Debido a que cada interacción planta-insecto es diferente, es importante desarrollar bioensayos para comparar plantas con diferentes perfiles volátiles y evaluar su atractivo comparativo para insectos específicos. Con este fin, desarrollamos un ensayo de elección por pares basado en laboratorio para determinar la preferencia de oviposición del gusano cogollero, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), una plaga mundial de cultivos, para el maíz, Zea mays L. (Poaceae), con plantas de diferentes perfiles volátiles. También, se desarrolló un ensayo alternativo en invernadero para evaluar el efecto de diferentes plantas de Z. mays sobre el comportamiento de oviposición de Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), una avispa parasitoide que puede usarse como agente de control biológico de S. frugiperda. Estos bioensayos se adaptan fácilmente para su uso en un rango de interacciones planta-insecto.

Key Words: bioassay; maize; oviposition; method; volatiles

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Supplementary material for this article in Florida Entomologist 103(4) (December 2020) is online at http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/entomologist/browse

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Published

2021-01-18

Issue

Vol. 103, No. 4 (December 2020)

Section

Research Papers

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