Kairomonal effect of acetone extracts of groundnut on foraging activities of Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) and Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson)

The present study concentration (1% = 10000 ppm) of the acetone extracts of various plant parts of groundnut were prepared to determine the specific acetone extract of the groundnut plant part(s) to optimizing the foraging behavior of Trichogramma chilonis Ishii and Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson). Laboratory bioassay with acetone extracts of young leaves, old leaves, flowers and stems of groundnut plant with T. chilonis and C. zastrowi sillemi revealed their kairomonal activities under in vitro condition. Treating irradiated eggs of Corcyra cephalonica Stainton with acetone extract of flowers of groundnut recorded the parasitization of 16.97 per cent by T. chilonis on third day after inoculation which increased from 56.87 to 73.14 per cent on fifth and seventh day after inoculation and they were 6.33, 19.77 and 25.64 per cent when the eggs were treated with acetone alone on third, fifth and seventh days after inoculation, respectively. Maximum emergence (66.11%) was observed with acetone extract of flowers followed by acetone extract of young leaves (49.82%). The highest predation by C. zastrowi sillemi on acetone extract of flowers treated eggs of C. cephalonica was recorded (69.97%) whereas it was 26.94 per cent in acetone treated eggs.