Orientation response of Cotesia plutellae Kurdjumov (Hymenoptera : Braconidae) towards nineteen straight-chain hydrocarbons ​​

Abstract

The Cotesia plutellae (Kurdjumov) (Hymenoptera : Braconidae) is a larval endoparasitoid of the major crucifer pest, diamondback moth Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera : Plutellidae). The oriental responses of C. plutellae towards 19 straight-chain hydrocarbons were scrutinized by Y tube choice bioassays. Stimulation for parasitoid elicited on application with 10 and 100 mg/l concentrations varied for each hydrocarbon. The study was conducted during the cole crop cultivation season in the winters of 2021-22 (January 2021-March 2022 at 28°32'7.8612'' N, 77°23'27.7044'' E). Out of all selected 19 hydrocarbons, Icosane emerged to be the best attractant with the highest percentage effectiveness of 1200%. The least attractancy was exhibited by Docosane. The possible behavioural manipulation of this specialist parasitoid using the desired concentration of hydrocarbon may be formulated and browbeaten for effective biological control of the diamondback moth.