Abstract
The host selection behavior of the encyrtid parasitoid Anicetus beneficus toward Ceroplastes species was investigated. Ovipositional stimulants were found in the Ceroplastes scale wax and were extractable with chloroform. The extract from C. rubens had the highest stimulation to A. beneficus while extracts from C. ceriferus and C. japonicus showed lower activity. The difference in ovipositional stimulation was considered an important chemical factor in the host selection behavior of A. beneficus. The stimulants in C. rubens were purified according to a bioassay using paraffin models on which samples were impregnated. Results showed that a mixture of sesterpenoid monoalcohols, and diols of diterpenoid together with sesterterpenoid were the most active.
