Analyses of volatiles produced by the African fruit fly species complex (Diptera, Tephritidae).

Michal Hoskovec,Sunday Ekesi,Radka Břízová,Blanka Kalinová,Mária Faťarová,Lucie Vaníčková

doi:10.3897/zookeys.540.9630

Abstract

Ceratitis fasciventris, Ceratitis anonae and Ceratitis rosa are polyphagous agricultural pests originating from the African continent. The taxonomy of this group (the so-called Ceratitis FAR complex) is unclear. To clarify the taxonomic relationships, male and female-produced volatiles presumably involved in pre-mating communication were studied using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS) followed by multivariate analysis, and gas chromatography combined with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). GC×GC-TOFMS analyses revealed sex specific differences in produced volatiles. Male volatiles are complex mixtures that differ both qualitatively and quantitatively but share some common compounds. GC-EAD analyses of male volatiles revealed that the antennal sensitivities of females significantly differ in the studied species. No female volatiles elicited antennal responses in males. The results show clear species-specific differences in volatile production and provide complementary information for the distinct delimitation of the putative species by chemotaxonomic markers.

Highlights

The fruit fly family Tephritidae (Diptera) consists of four major genera, Ceratitis, Bactrocera, Anastrepha and Rhagoletis, which are considered important insect pests worldwide (Aluja and Norrbom 2001)
No female specific volatiles were detected by GC×GC-TOFMS or by gas chromatography combined with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) qualitative analysis
The techniques applied in the present study allowed for detail analyses and identification of the specific volatiles produced by the FAR complex species

Summary

Introduction

The fruit fly family Tephritidae (Diptera) consists of four major genera, Ceratitis, Bactrocera, Anastrepha and Rhagoletis, which are considered important insect pests worldwide (Aluja and Norrbom 2001). Ceratitis rosa is feared to be a global threat due to its tolerance to lower temperatures (Duyck and Quilici 2002). It may expand within Africa, and across Europe, Asia, Australia and the North and South American continents (De Meyer et al 2008). Reproduction behavior in genus Ceratitis is initiated by males that aggregate in leks on vegetation to lure females by releasing long-range pheromones. Females attracted by male pheromone visit leks and choose males to mate based on complex visual, acoustical and chemical stimuli (Aluja and Norrbom 2001). There are no records available on the composition of the long-range volatiles released by the FAR complex species

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