ARS | Publication request: Response of Anestrepha suspensa to liquid protein baits and synthetic lure formulations

Submitted to: Fruit Flies of Economic Importance International Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: October 15, 2006
Publication Date: November 1, 2008
Citation: Epsky, N.D., Kendra, P.E., Heath, R.R. 2008. Response of Anestrepha suspensa to liquid protein baits and synthetic lure formulations. Pp. 81-88 In R.L. Sugayama, R.A. Zucchi, S.M. Ovruski, and J. Sivinski (eds.). Fruit Flies of Economic Importance: From Basic to Applied Knowledge. Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance, 10-15 Sept 2006, Salvador, Brazil.

Interpretive Summary: The caribfly, Anastrepha suspensa, is a quarantine pest of citrus in Florida and limits production of several preferred host fruit trees grown in south Florida. Other Anastrepha fruit flies occur in the Caribbean and South America and are a threat to invade the US. Improved attractants are needed for these fruit flies, both to reduce populations where they occur and to provide early warning if introduced into uninfested areas. Therefore, research was conducted by scientists at the SHRS to determine if the previously developed food-based synthetic attractant could be optimized for caribfly capture and to evaluate liquid protein baits for additional attractant chemicals. Changes in dosage and formulation of synthetic attractant did not improve capture of caribfly. Age of liquid protein bait solutions affected both capture of fruit flies and antennal rsponse. Chemical analysis will be used to determine the nature of the change in effectiveness over time. Identification of additional attractant chemicals from protein baits that could be added to food-based synthetic lures may provide more effective trapping systems for A. suspensa as well as other pest Tephritidae that are captured in higher numbers in traps baited with liquid protein solutions.

Technical Abstract: The host list for the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), includes nearly 100 fruit trees including citrus. Highly effective traps for this species and for other Anastrepha spp. are needed for suppression of fruit flies in areas in which they occur and for early detection in fly free areas. Traps baited with a two component food-based synthetic lure outcapture traps baited with liquid protein baits in some field trials, but results may be highly variable. Field tests were conducted in south Florida to evaluate effects of synthetic lure dosage and formulation on fly capture in preferred hosts. Reducing dosage of ammonia by 50% slightly increased capture, but reducing dosage to 25% tended to decrease capture, and traps with ammonium acetate captured more flies than traps baited with ammonium bicarbonate. Laboratory studies including flight tunnel tests and electroantennogram analyses were conducted to test the effect of age of bait solution. Age of liquid protein bait solutions affected both capture of fruit flies and antennal response. Chemical analysis will be used to determine the nature of the change in effectiveness of liquid protein baits over time. Identification of additional attractant chemicals from protein baits that could be added to food-based synthetic lures may provide more effective trapping systems for A. suspensa as well as other pest tephritidae that are captured in higher numbers in traps baited with liquid protein solutions.