CHEMICAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MALES AND FEMALES OF A PUPAL PARASITOID DIAPETIMORPHA-INTROITA (HYMENOPTERA, ICHNEUMONIDAE)

Data supporting chemically mediated communication between males and fe males of a pupal parasitoid Diapetimorpha introita (Hymenoptera: Ichne umonidae) were gathered by field trapping, behavioral bioassays, and e lectroantennography, Responses of male antennae to live females or the ir extract were seater than responses to live males or their extract. Responses to a control were negligible. Responses of female antennae t o live insects or a control were the same. Responses to male or female extracts also were the same, but greater than responses to a control. Logarithmic serial dilutions of the female whole-body extract applied to male antennae revealed a dose-response curve with a quadratic fit. Responses of male and female antennae to extracts of tagmata were con sistent with responses to whole-body extracts, but a more specific sit e associated with electrophysiologically active materials was not appa rent. In behavioral bioassays and in the field, more males were caught in traps baited with live females than in traps baited with live male s or a control. None of the extracts attracted males in the bioassay, and no females were caught in traps in the field.