Korean Journal of Agricultural Science (농업과학연구)

Institute of Agricultural Science, CNU (충남대학교 농업과학연구소)
권호 표지

Learning of narcotic odors by a parasitoid

  • Bui, Lan Huong (Graduate School of Bioresource and Environmental Sciences, Kyushu University) ;
  • Takasu, Keiji (Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University)
  • Received : 2008.06.04
  • Accepted : 2009.06.03
  • Published : 2009.06.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

When the parasitic wasp Microplitis croceipes experiences odors while feeding on sugar water, it learns to associate the odors with sugar and thereafter exhibits typical food searching behavior in response to the odors. Previous studies have shown that this wasp can be used for detection of the small amount of explosives or other volatile chemicals. In the present study, we examined if this wasp can learn and report narcotic odors. Males of M. croceipes were trained to link sugar water with pseudo-narcotic scents that have been used for training narcotic detection dogs, and their behavioral response to the trained odors was observed. The males that had been given either an odor or sugar water did not show any positive response to the odors. However, when the wasps were given a combination of sugar water and either the pseudo-Cocaine, Heroin, LSD or Marihuana, they quickly learned to associate the odors with sugar, and thereafter positively responded to those odors. Our results suggest that this wasp can be used for detection of these narcotics.

Keywords

References

  1. Lewis, W. J. and K. Takasu. 1990. Use of learned odors by a parasitic wasp in accordance with host and food needs. Nature 348: 635-636. https://doi.org/10.1038/348635a0
  2. Vet, L. E. M., W. J. Lewis and R. T. Cardé. 1995. Parasitoid learning. In Chemical ecology of insect 2. Carde, R. T. and W. J. Bell (eds.) pp65-101, Chapman & Hall, New York.
  3. Olson, D. M., G. C. Rains, T. Meiner, K. Takasu, M. Tertuliano, J. H. Tumlinson, F. L. Wäckers and W. J. Lewis. 2003. Parasitic wasps learn and report diverse chemicals with unique conditionable behaviors. Chem. Senses 28:545-549. https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/28.6.545
  4. Rains, G. C., S. L. Utley and W. J. Lewis. 2006. Behavioral monitoring of trained insects for chemical detection. Biotech. Progress 22:2-8. https://doi.org/10.1021/bp050164p
  5. Tomberlin J. K., G. C. Rains and M. R. Sanford. 2008. Development of Microplitis croceipes as a biological sensor. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 128: 249-257. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1570-7458.2008.00743.x
  6. Lewis, W. J. and R.L. Burton. 1970. Rearing Microplitis croceipes in the laboratory with Heliothis zea as hosts. J. Econ. Entomol. 63:656-658. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/63.2.656
  7. Takasu, K. and W. J. Lewis. 1995. Importance of adult food sources to host searching of the larval parasitoid Microplitis croceipes. Biol. Control. 5:25-30. https://doi.org/10.1006/bcon.1995.1003
  8. Takasu, K., G. C. Rains and W. J. Lewis. 2007. Comparison of detection ability of learned odors between males and females in the larval parasitoid Microplitis croceipes. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 122:247-251. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1570-7458.2006.00511.x
  9. Le, H. K. and K. Takasu. 2005. Helicoverpa armigera as an alternative host of the larval parasitoid Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Appl. Entomol. Zool. 40:679-686. https://doi.org/10.1303/aez.2005.679
  10. Marascuilo L. A. and M. McSweney. 1977. Nonparametric and distributiebon-free methods for the social science. Brrooks/Cole, Monterey, USA.
  11. Tomberlin, J. K., M. Tertuliano, G. Rains and W. J. Lewis. 2005. Conditioned Microplitis croceipes Cresson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) detect and respond to 2,4-DNT: development of a biological sensor. J. Forensic. Sci. 50:1187-1190.
  12. DAPC http://www.dapc.or.jp/english/establish.htm.