Franco, J.C., Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Silva, E.B.D., Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Fortuna, T., Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Cortegano, E., Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Branco, M., Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Suma, P., Dip. Gestione dei Sistemi Agroalimentari e Ambientali, Entomology sec., Univ. Catania, Via S. Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Torre, I.L., Dip. Gestione dei Sistemi Agroalimentari e Ambientali, Entomology sec., Univ. Catania, Via S. Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Russo, A., Dip. Gestione dei Sistemi Agroalimentari e Ambientali, Entomology sec., Univ. Catania, Via S. Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Elyahu, M., Department of Entomology and Volcani Center, ARO, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Protasov, A., Department of Entomology and Volcani Center, ARO, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Levi-Zada, A., Department of Entomology and Volcani Center, ARO, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Mendel, Z., Department of Entomology and Volcani Center, ARO, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel

The present study was aimed at elucidating the role of lavandulyl senecioate (LS), the sex pheromone of Planococcus ficus, in host selection of the parasitoid Anagyrus sp. near pseudococci. Field trials were carried out in Portugal, Italy and Israel. The effect of LS on the parasitism rate of the wasp was determined by exposing sentinel mealybugs combined with pheromone dispensers impregnated with LS, in comparison with other baits: lavandulyl isovalerate (LI); planococcyl acetate (PAc); and unbaited control traps. In addition, in order to study the host location behavior of A. sp. near pseudococci, pheromone dispensers were placed at three different distances: inside the trap, 30 or 60. cm away from the trap. The number of parasitoid females inside the traps, the number of parasitized mealybugs, and the number of days required for the first parasitoid emergence were recorded. The response of A. sp. near pseudococci females to different doses of LS (25-1350. μg) was also evaluated using sticky plate traps. The rate of mealybug parasitism by A. sp. near pseudococci was significantly increased by LS in the three parasitoid populations. PAc and LI had no significant effect on the wasp parasitism rate in most of the trials. However, the Italian population of the parasitoid responded to PAc, showing apparently a different behavioral pattern. The number of parasitoid females trapped did not significantly differ between tested doses of LS. The use of LS as an arrestant in host location by the A. sp. near pseudococci female is discussed. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.