AuthorFatouros, N.E., Huigens, M.E., van Loon, J.J.A., Dicke, M. & Hilker, M.
Year2005
TitleChemical communication: butterfly anti-aphrodisiac lures parasitic wasps
TypePaper
SourceNature 433: 704.
IllustrationsMovie on the BugsInThePicture website
Review (by Malcolm Storey)

In the Large White Botterfly (Pieris brassicae), the male passes an anti-aphrodisiac to the female during mating. This presumably reduces the likelihood of a second mating replacing his sperm. Females of the Chalcid wasp, Trichogramma brassicae detect this pheromone and follow it to the mated female. They cling onto the female until she lays eggs which they then parasitise. From the movie it’s quite clear that the butterfly wants none of it!

The authors speculate that such mechanisms could constrain the evolution of sexual communication in the hosts.

Notes & PurposeStatusTaxonEnglishClassification
CurrentTrichogramma brassicaea chalcid waspAnimalia: Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae
CurrentPieris brassicaeLarge White ButterflyAnimalia: Lepidoptera: Pieridae
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