Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry· 2026Q1
Host Volatiles Drive Host Preference and Consequently Shape the Fitness of a Generalist Parasitoid Wasp, Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
The generalist parasitoid wasp Meteorus pulchricornis shows an innate preference for Spodoptera frugiperda over Plodia interpunctella, driven by distinct volatile organic compounds. Olfactory receptor co-receptor (MpulORco) knockdown impairs this preference, and wasps reared on S. frugiperda exhibit greater body size and fecundity.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Meteorus pulchricornis exhibits an innate preference for Spodoptera frugiperda over Plodia interpunctella.
- Host preference is mediated by olfactory cues, as indicated by electroantennogram responses and the role of MpulORco.
- Distinct volatile organic compound profiles differentiate the two host species.
- Wasps reared on the preferred host (S. frugiperda) show enhanced fitness, including larger body size and higher fecundity.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Host preference is critical to the efficacy of parasitoids in biological control, while the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we found that the host preference of the generalist parasitoid Meteorus pulchricornis revealed an innate preference for Spodoptera frugiperda, followed by Plodia interpunctella. GC–MS analysis showed distinct volatile organic compound profiles between the two hosts, with 2-hexanol as a shared component. Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings showed that wasp antennae responded more strongly to S. frugiperda than to P. interpunctella odors, suggesting olfaction mediates host preference. Knockdown of the odorant receptor co-receptor, MpulORco, impaired both EAG responses and host preference behavior. Furthermore, wasps reared on S. frugiperda had larger body size and higher fecundity, providing a plausible fitness-based explanation for the observed preference. Collectively, our study reveals olfaction is involved in host preference behavior in a generalist parasitoid and establishes a functional connection between olfactory cues and individual fitness.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Insect Science
Insect ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences