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Composition of cuticular lipids in the pteromalid wasp Lariophagus distinguendus is host dependent

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2012

S. Kühbandner ,
K. Hacker ,
S. Niedermayer ,
J.L.M. Steidle  and
J. Ruther
S. Kühbandner
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
K. Hacker
Affiliation:
Institute for Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
S. Niedermayer
Affiliation:
Institute for Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
J.L.M. Steidle
Affiliation:
Institute for Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
J. Ruther*
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
*
*Author for correspondence Fax: +49-941 943 5583 E-mail: Joachim.ruther@biologie.uni-regensburg.de
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Abstract

The insect cuticle is covered by a thin layer of hydrocarbons not only preventing desiccation but also playing an important role in the sexual communication of several species. In the pteromalid wasp Lariophagus distinguendus, a parasitoid of grain infesting beetles, female cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) elicit male courtship behaviour. We analyzed the CHC profiles of male and female L. distinguendus wasps reared on different beetle hosts by coupled gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Statistical analysis of the data revealed significant differences between strains reared on different hosts, while spatially isolated strains reared on the same host produced similar profiles. CHC profiles of parasitoids reared on Stegobium paniceum were statistically distinguishable from those of wasps reared on all other hosts. A host shift from Sitophilus granarius to S. paniceum resulted in distinguishable CHC profiles of L. distinguendus females after only one generation. Considering the role of CHCs as contact sex pheromones, our data suggest that host shifts in parasitic wasps might lead to reproductive isolation of host races due to the modification of the cuticular semiochemistry.

Keywords

contact sex pheromonecuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs)host shiftparasitic wasp
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 102 , Issue 5 , October 2012 , pp. 610 - 617
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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