Biosteres longicaudatus

Many authors mentioned ovipositor probing (Spradberry, 1970 Prince, 1976 Schmidt, 1974) but few have examined the factors that elicit the response. Lawrence (1981) found vibrations from the feeding host elicited ovipositor probing in Biosteres longicaudatus. Vinson (1975b) isolated a probing stimulant for Chelonus insularis from the ovary of the tobacco budworm. 

Lawrence, P. O. (1981) Host vibration A cue to host location by the parasite, Biosteres longicaudatus. Oecologia, 48, 249-51. 

Lawrence, P. O. (1982) Biosteres longicaudatus Developmental dependence on host physiology. Exp. Parasitol., 53, 396-405. 

The role of host-associated organisms in the orientation of parasitoids to potential host communities is of particular interest. One of the best examples is provided by Greany et al. (1977) who showed that, in rotting fuit, a fungus which is often associated with tephritid fruit fly larvae produces acetaldehyde, an attractant of the parasitoid, Biosteres Opius) longicaudatus. 

Greany, P. D., Tumlinson, J. H., Chambers, D. L. and Boush, G. M. (1977) Chemically-mediated host finding by Biosteres (Opius) Longicaudatus, a parasitoid of tephritid fruit fly larvae. J. Chem. EcoL, 3, 189-95. 

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