van den Meiracker, R.A.F., Hammond, W.N.O., & van Alphen, J.J.M. 1988 The role of kairomones in prey finding in the coccinellids Diomus sp. and Exochomus sp., predators of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti.. Mededelingen van de Faculteit Landbouwwetenschappen, Rijksuniversiteit Gent 53(3a): 1063-1077.

Notes: [In XXXX International Symposium on Crop Protection, Gent.] The searching behaviour of the coccinellid Diomus sp., introduced to Africa as a biological control agent of the pseudococcid Phenacoccus manihoti, was studied in the laboratory at 25 deg C on cassava leaves. Exochomus sp., an African predator of P. manihoti, was also studied. Females of Diomus sp. and Exochomus sp. spent more time searching on cassava leaves previously infested with P. manihoti than on clean leaves. Both species were also arrested by wax and honeydew of another pseudococcid, Planococcus citri. When offered a choice between excretions of pseudococcids, only experienced individuals of Diomus sp. (reared on Phenococcus manihoti) showed a clear preference for excretions of this prey. The separate influences of wax and honeydew were tested. Wax from P. manihoti exuviae acted as an arrestment stimulus for both coccinellids. Honeydew produced by P. manihoti arrested Exochomus sp. and inexperienced Diomus sp.