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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Chemistry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #302532

Title: Fruit and host-derived compounds and their effect on orientation and oviposition in Tephritid parasitoids

Author
item Stuhl, Charles

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: There is a potential to use argumentatively released parasitoids to biologically control tephritid pests worldwide. Opiine braconid fruit fly parasitoids have been used in the control of Anastrepha suspensa in Florida and in other locations. Chemical cues from the parasitoids’ hosts and the substrates in and on which the hosts develop are known to be fundamental components of orientation during foraging for adult food, oviposition opportunities and mating sites. Volatile compounds collected from A. suspense larvae and host fruit have shown potential to enhance oviposition and orientation to oviposition sites. Para-ethylacetophenone, an analog acetophenone, a known tephritid parasitoid attractant, was a major constituent of four species of tropical and subtropical Tephritidae larval volatiles including A. suspense. Although a potential cue to foraging parasitoids, para-ethylacetophenone stimulated ovipositor-insertion and oviposition into both a natural (fruit) and an artificial (parafilm) substrate. Limonene is a compound found in many of the host fruits and leaves of the fly pests. The addition of this compound may assist the parasitoids in location of the oviposition substrate when an artificial diet is utilized. By incorporating these two substances in a minute amount may prove useful in colonizing and mass-rearing opine fruit fly parasitoids. Mass-rearing and augmentative release of tephritid fruit fly parasitoids has great promise, particularly in conjunction with sterile males and in areas where insecticides cannot be applied.