author(s)
Movva Vijaya, Pathipati Usha Rani and S Rajna

abstract
Chilli, Capsicum annuum L. plants release volatile chemicals in response to the feeding stress caused by the generalist herbivore, Spodoptera litura. These chemicals serves as volatile cues that signal and recruit the generalist egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii to successfully locate its host. The volatile chemicals released after the herbivory were extracted and subjected to column chromatography and the different solvent fractions were assayed in behavioral bioassays. Twelve percent Ethyl acetate fraction which was found to attract the wasps more intensively was regarded as active fraction and was analyzed by GC-MASS. Urs 12 en- 24- oic acid 3-oxo methyl ester, found only in the infested plants at high percentage (11.214%) along with several long chain hydro carbon compounds, identified as Tetradecane, Dodecanoic acid, Pentacosane, Hexacosane, Heptacosane, Triacontane which all together might be playing an important role in providing chemical cues for the parasitoid, T. chilonis.