ABSTRACT
Some semiochemicals may be evident when studies are carried out on the oviposition behaviour. Oviposition of Bephratelloides pomorum (Fabricius, 1908) (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) on soursop fruit was monitored under laboratory conditions (temperature: 26.4 ± 0.3º C; R.H.: 69.6 ± 1.6%). Twenty females were used to obtain enough data. Firstly, the female walked on the fruit surface, while it performed permanent antenna touching. Afterwards, it stopped and curved its abdomen perpendicularly to the fruit surface. Then, the female took its body down until touching the fruit surface with the final part of its abdomen. These female movements conditioned the penetration of the ovipositor inside the fruit. After it performed the oviposition behavior, the female raised its body, removed its ovipositor, fitted it in a split localized in its abdomen and then, it began to walk again. All results have indicated that B. pomorum presents the same oviposition behavior commonly observed in other phytophagous eurytomids.
KEY WORDS:
Bephratelloides pomorum, oviposition behavior; antennation; ovipositor.
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