Wilf Powell

TL;DR: Research at IACR-Rothamsted on aphid parasitoid responses to semiochemical foraging stimuli is described, aimed at developing novel ways of manipulating these behaviours to overcome ecological constraints to biological and integrated pest control.

TL;DR: The role of semiochemicals in mediating intraguild interactions between the seven-spot ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata, and the aphid parasitoid, Aphidius ervi, was investigated and hydrocarbons identified induced avoidance behavior by female parasitoids.

TL;DR: Honeydew contamination on egg laying by the syrphids Episyrphus balteatus and Platycheirus albimanus on ears of wheat was investigated, and females landed more frequently on ears contaminated with Honeydew than on clean ears, suggesting a response to honeydew volatiles.

TL;DR: It has been shown that exudates from the roots of aphid-infested plants, grown hydroponically or in soil, cause intact plants to become more attractive to parasitoids, and aerial interactions between intact barley plants from different cultivars can also influence acceptability to aphids.

TL;DR: The attraction to host plant volatiles was reduced by the addition of non‐host plant vol atiles, but in addition to masking the host plantvolatiles, theNon‐host volatile were avoided when these were presented alone, which is encouraging for the potential use of non-host plants within a push‐pull strategy to reduce the pest colonisation of crops.