Host location and suitability of the armyworm larvae of Mythimna separata for the tachinid parasitoid Exorista larvarum

This work evaluates the efficiency of Exorista larvarum (L.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) in localizing and parasitizing the larvae of the noctuid moth Mythimna unipuncta (Howarth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in laboratory conditions, in a wind tunnel and in PVC cages. The most important cue in host location by E. larvarum females was host-induced plant volatiles Visual cues, natural maize volatiles and artificially damaged plants were less efficient for host localization. Mortality in M. unipuncta larvae on which E. larvarum laid eggs was high. This finding indicates that E. larvarum could effectively contribute to lowering the population size of M. unipuncta, even if only few parasitoids successfully completed their development in the host.