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Landing Surface Color Preferences of Spathius agrili (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a Parasitoid of Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

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Abstract

The color preferences for landing surfaces were examined for Spathius agrili (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitic wasp introduced for biocontrol of emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Lures with the 3-component pheromone blend of male S. agrili were used to activate upwind flight by virgin female S. agrili in a laminar flow wind tunnel. Paper discs with halves of two different colors (combination pairs of black, white, red, yellow, green, or purple), with the pheromone lure in the center, were tested to quantify preferences for landing on one color over another. Females landed preferentially on green, yellow, and white surfaces, and landed the least frequently on red, black, and purple surfaces. Changes in color preferences due to adjacent colors were observed and discussed.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Vic Mastro and Russ Bullock for their critique of this manuscript. Mention of a commercial product does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for its use by USDA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otis Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST, 1398 W. Truck Rd., Buzzards Bay, MA, 02542, USA

    Miriam F. Cooperband & Ashley Hartness

  2. Brighton Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ, 5936 Ford Ct. Suite 200, Brighton, MI, 48116, USA

    Jonathan P. Lelito

  3. Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, USDA-ARS-NCAUR, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL, 61604, USA

    Allard A. Cossé

Authors
  1. Miriam F. Cooperband
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  2. Ashley Hartness
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  3. Jonathan P. Lelito
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  4. Allard A. Cossé
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miriam F. Cooperband.

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Cooperband, M.F., Hartness, A., Lelito, J.P. et al. Landing Surface Color Preferences of Spathius agrili (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a Parasitoid of Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). J Insect Behav 26, 721–729 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-013-9387-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-013-9387-3

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