Response of the parasitoid wasp Anisopteromalus calandrae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to the developmental stages and emitted semiochemicals of Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in stored chickpeas

Abstract

The insect Callosobruchus maculatus is a primary pest of stored chickpeas, resulting in significant qualitative and quantitative losses worldwide. Furthermore, consumer demand for food free of chemical residues is driving the development of safer alternative methods, such as biological control. This control method utilizes natural enemies, such as Anisopteromalus calandrae, a larval parasitoid wasp, to decrease pest populations. This study investigates how A. calandrae responds to the volatile compounds emitted by C. maculatus at different developmental stages in stored chickpeas. The parasitoid response was evaluated using olfactometric bioassays in a Y-tube apparatus, where females were exposed to airflows enriched with volatiles from different insect stages. The results indicated a strong preference for the volatiles emitted by eggs and larvae compared to those from pupae and adults. This suggests that A. calandrae primarily relies on semiochemicals from early developmental stages to locate its host. Gaining a better understanding of these chemical signals could improve the use of A. calandrae for managing stored product pests. This would help decrease dependence on chemical pesticides and encourage sustainable pest control in agricultural storage systems.