Genetic and environmental influences on the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of Goniozus wasps

Abstract

AbstractThe cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of insects are well known to be variable. This variation may be due to genetic influences, environmental influences, or both. Most prior studies have focused on social insects, mainly those in the Hymenoptera, and have shown that hydrocarbons play an important role mediating social behaviour, particularly via kin recognition. Here, we assess the CHC profiles of three species of parasitoid wasps in the genus Goniozus (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), some of which are known to attune their behaviour according to both environmentally based and genetically based recognition of kin. We find that CHC profiles vary according to both the genetic background (wasp species) and the developmental environment (host species) of individual parasitoids. This indicates that kin recognition could be based on CHC profiles in these parasitoids, as it is in social Hymenoptera. Because the CHC profiles of species within the genus Goniozus are dissimilar, we also conclude that chemical analysis could be used as a taxonomic tool alongside morphological and molecular genetic identification for Goniozus and other species.