Dynamics of odour learning in Leptopilina boulardi, a hymenopterous parasitoid (original) (raw)

We investigated the dynamics of odour learning involved in host location by a parasitoid insect, Leptopilina boulardi (Hymenoptera: Figitidae). Females of this species find their Drosophila host larvae by probing fruits with their ovipositor. They can be conditioned to respond to an odour when the odour exposure is associated with oviposition. We investigated the effect of the number of conditioning trials, sensitization tests and extinction tests on the retention of the conditioned response. Results showed that: