Contact stimulants fromHeliothis virescens that influence the behavior of females of the tachinid,Eucelatoria bryani.

Factors acting at contact or close range affected the behavior associated with host seeking of females, but not of males, of the tachinid,Eucelatoria bryani Sabrosky. Females were arrested by components of larvae ofHeliothis virescens (F.) and by a dichloromethane extract of okra leaves. A hexane extract ofH. virescens frass and a chloroform-methanol extract ofH. virescens larvae were both active. In addition to chemicals, shape and size were involved because females were arrested by small inert objects the size ofH. virescens larvae and frass.