The effects of volatile organic compounds on host seeking behavior of Trissolcus japonicus

The samurai wasp, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is an egg parasitoid wasp that shows a preference for the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), a major pest of the US agricultural industries. Their oviposition into the BMSB eggs results in mortality of the developing embryos. Trissolcus japonicus has shown potential as a biological control agent for controlling BMSB populations. Studies have demonstrated that specific volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the plants, such as decanal, act as semiochemicals and attract BMSB, the effect of these compounds on Trissolcus japonicus could result in increased parasitism. This study focuses on the interspecific interactions that may result in host preference such as plant volatiles. Here we investigate the attractiveness of decanal on host location for the samurai wasp as a method to increase the efficiency of this biological control agent using 4 arm olfactometers. Understanding if different plant VOCs affect T. japonicus can lead to increased efficiency of biocontrol applications.