Alightment of Edovum puttleri Grissell (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Response to Colors Mimicking Three Hosts of the Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

The effect of leaf color on alighting behavior of Edovum puttleri Grissell was examined in a laboratory sticky-board test. Paint models mimicking the leaf top colors of eggplant, potato, and tomato and a model mimicking average underside leaf color were tested in paired comparisons. The underside leaf color mimic was the most preferred; no significant differences in landing rates occurred among any of the three leaf top color mimics. The underside leaf color mimic also was tested against two gray shades sharing the same intensity of reflectance; no significant differences were detected. The parasitoid, therefore, preferentially alighted based on the intensity and not the hue of the models. For all assays, a significant departure from randomness was found because a higher percentage of females alighted on the paint models than that which was in the colony. This suggests that parasitoids were alighting in a search for host eggs.