Olfactory-orientation

Guides

• Dinarmus

  Dinarmus is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Pteromalidae with nearly cosmopolitan distribution. Species in this genus are larval-pupal ectoparasitoids of bruchid beetles (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), particularly pests of stored legume seeds such as cowpea. The genus includes economically important biological control agents, notably D. basalis and D. vagabundus, which are deployed in integrated pest management programs targeting Callosobruchus species. Research on D. basalis has revealed complex host discrimination behaviors, facultative superparasitism, and olfactory host location mechanisms.

  ectoparasitoidbiological-controlstored-product-protectionbruchid-parasitoidhost-discriminationsuperparasitismsex-ratio-manipulationolfactory-orientation

• Gastrophysa polygoni

  Knotweed Leaf Beetle

  Gastrophysa polygoni is a small leaf beetle in the subfamily Chrysomelinae, described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Adults reach approximately 5 mm in length and display distinctive coloration: metallic green wing cases (elytra), green-blue body, and orange thorax. The species is native to Europe and has become established in North America, where it was introduced early in colonial settlement. It feeds primarily on Polygonaceae plants, serving as a beneficial biological control agent for weeds such as knotweeds and docks, though it occasionally damages cultivated buckwheat. The beetle exhibits complex reproductive behaviors including olfactory examination of airspace, track marking by females, and post-copulatory cleaning rituals.

  leaf-beetleChrysomelidaebiological-controlPolygonaceaeweedpesticide-sensitivityintroduced-speciesNorth-AmericaEuropereproductive-behaviorolfactory-orientation

• Rhyzobius lophanthae

  purple scale predator, scale-eating ladybird

  Rhyzobius lophanthae is a small coccidophagous ladybird beetle native to Queensland and Southern Australia, widely introduced as a biological control agent. Adults and larvae prey on armored scales (Diaspididae) and mealybugs, with younger larvae crawling beneath protective scale covers to feed on nymphs. The species has established populations across the southern United States since its 1892 introduction to California, as well as in Europe and Pacific islands including Guam and Rota. It exhibits temperature-dependent development with optimal reproductive performance at 28°C.

  biological-controlcoccidophagousscale-predatorintroduced-speciesAustralian-nativetemperature-dependent-developmentolfactory-orientationcitrus-pest-managementclassical-biological-controlaugmentative-biological-control

• Trigonotylus

  rice leaf bug

  Trigonotylus is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, tribe Stenodemini, containing approximately 18 described species. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with species in North America, Europe, Asia, and Hawaii. Several species are associated with grasses (Poaceae), with T. caelestialium being a significant agricultural pest of rice in Japan. The genus exhibits variation in host plant use, oviposition behavior, and seasonal life history strategies.

  grass-feederagricultural-pestmultivoltineegg-diapauseolfactory-orientationJapanrice-pestPoaceaeStenodeminibet-hedging

• Trigonotylus caelestialium

  Rice Leaf Bug

  Trigonotylus caelestialium is a mirid plant bug known as the rice leaf bug, native to Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. It is a multivoltine pest of rice in Japan, where it causes pecky-rice damage by feeding on developing grains. The species has a broad host range within Poaceae, utilizing various grasses as alternative hosts before invading rice paddies during the flowering stage.

  agricultural-pestrice-pestmultivoltinediapauseolfactory-orientationPoaceaeJapanendophyte-resistancebet-hedging-strategy