Intra- and interspecific communication in three species of Glyptapanteles parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Short-range pheromonal communication was investigated in congeneric GlyptapantelesJlavicoxis, G. indiensis and G. liparidis (Hyrnenoptera: Braconidae). In coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) analyses of female G. Jlavicoxis body extracts, four components elicited strong responses from conspecific male antennae. Monitored by GC-EAD, the components were separated by flash silica gel and high-performance liquid chromatography. Y-tube olfactometer experiments revealed that all four components are necessary to elicit close-range attraction and wing-fanning responses by males. In electrophysiological analyses of body extracts of female G. indiensis and G. liparidis conspecific male antennae responded to five and six components, respectively. Both species share four components with G. flavicoxis, but also have species-specific components. In Y-tube olfactometer experiments, body extracts of females elicited attraction and wing-fanning responses only by conspecific males, supporting the hypothesis of species-specific sex pheromone blends.