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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #382679
Research Project: Mitigation of Invasive Pest Threats to U.S. Subtropical Agriculture

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Efficacy of synthetic food-based lures for detection of Anastrepha suspensa in three hosts in Florida, USA

Author
item Kendra, Paul
item VAZQUEZ, AIME - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Gill, Micah

Submitted to: National Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/12/2021
Publication Date: 4/28/2021
Citation: Kendra, P. E., A. Vázquez, M. A. Gill, L. K. Mosser, J. H. Crane, and D. Carrillo. 2021. Efficacy of synthetic food-based lures for detection of Anastrepha suspensa in three hosts in Florida, USA. 4th Virtual Symposium of the International Branch of the Entomological Society of America. 26-28 Apr 2021.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae), is established in southern Florida where it is a quarantine pest of citrus and a production pest of guava and other specialty fruits. Effective field lures are needed for early detection of A. suspensa and initiation of control measures. In 2020, three 10-week field tests were conducted in Miami-Dade County, Florida in groves of guava, loquat, and Surinam cherry. Each test compared efficacy and longevity of 2- and 3-component (2C, 3C) cone lures (the current standards used by regulatory agencies) relative to the traditional liquid protein bait containing hydrolyzed torula yeast (TY). Concurrent with field trials, additional lures were field-aged and periodically brought into the laboratory to quantify emissions using newly developed ion chromatography methods. In all field tests, traps baited with TY caught the highest number of flies, and traps baited with 2C lures captured significantly more than traps baited with 3C lures. Field longevity ranged from 6-8 weeks for the 2C lure, and 5-6 weeks for the 3C lure. Analysis of lure emissions is underway to correlate release rates of ammonia, putrescine, and trimethylamine with fly attraction observed in the field. Results indicate that TY still provides the best detection of A. suspensa. Of the two synthetic lures, the 2C cone has a longer field life and is more effective for capture of Anastrepha, apparently due to a repellent effect of the trimethylamine component in 3C cones. This study provides data requested by federal action agencies on the efficacy and longevity of standard fruit fly lures and identifies a need for improved attractants for pest Anastrepha species.