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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #364819
Research Project: Methyl Bromide Replacement: Mitigation of the Invasive Pest Threat from the American Tropics and Subtropics

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Potential new attractants for the Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Author
item Montgomery, Wayne
item Gill, Micah
item Tabanca, Nurhayat
item MASI, MARCO - Naples University
item Epsky, Nancy
item NOCERA, PAOLA - Naples University
item CIMMINO, ALESSIO - Naples University
item Kendra, Paul
item NIOGRET, JEROME - Niogret Ecology Consulting
item EVIDENTE, ANTONIO - Naples University

Submitted to: Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2019
Publication Date: 7/21/2019
Citation: Montgomery, W.S., Gill, M.A., Tabanca, N., Masi, M., Epsky, N.D., Nocera, P., Cimmino, A., Kendra, P.E., Niogret, J., Evidente, A. 2019. Potential new attractants for the Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)[abstract]. Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting. 21-24 July 2019.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Ceratitis capitata, the Mediterranean fruit fly, is one of the most serious agricultural pests worldwide, responsible for substantial reduction in fruit and vegetable yields, resulting in billions of dollars of economic loss. The aim of this study was to identify effective attractants for C. capitata and disrupt the ‘disadvantage matrix’ associated with conventional insecticide control: expense, pesticide resistance, and harm to the environment and non-target beneficial insects. A series of 29 structurally-related natural and synthetic aromatic compounds were screened for bioactivity using lab bioassays and electroantennography (EAG). No-choice bioassays identified phenyllactic acid, estragole, o-eugenol, and 2-allylphenol as promising attractants for males. Binary choice bioassays showed o-eugenol to be the most attractive. In general, strong EAG responses were elicited by the same compounds that were observed to be attractive in the bioassays. Additionally, EAG analysis identified 2 compounds that elicited higher than expected olfactory responses; these require further study to determine their biological relevance. This study demonstrated that there are key structural features (specific functional groups attached to the aromatic ring) associated with attraction, information that will help direct future research on development of improved lures for Mediterranean fruit fly.