Comparison of inherent and learned responses to plant cues in males and females of Cotesia congregata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Parasitic wasps use plant cues to locate suitable hosts for oviposition; likewise, males may use plant cues to locate potential mates and if so, this could facilitate assortative mating. For example, females of the gregarious endoparasitic wasp, Cotesia congregata, display differential inherent behavioral responses to plants with respect to population and host-plant complex (HPC) origin, and these responses are enhanced through postemergence (= early adult) learning. Behavioral responses of males to plant cues in parasitic wasps has been rarely studied. We hypothesized that mechanisms of learning, and inherent and learned responses of males from each of two HPCs, Manduca sexta on tobacco (“MsT”) and Ceratomia catalpae on catalpa (“CcC”), would mirror those of their sisters. Searching assays were used to compare mechanisms of learning using a non-host plant (cabbage), and comparing male and female responses with respect to HPC. Results demonstrated that males can learn plant clues, and that both males and females exhibit peak searching responses at two days post-emergence. Preliminary results suggest that males from each HPC display similar, albeit less intense, responses to plant cues compared to females. MsT wasps experienced with tobacco displayed increased searching responses to tobacco and CcC wasps experienced with catalpa displayed increased searching responses to catalpa. Learning capacity with respect to HPC did not differ for males or females. This is work in progress.