Attraction of Hylemya antiqua (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) in the field to host- produced oviposition stimulants and their nonhost analogues

Abstract

VERNON, R. S., G. J. R. JUDD, J. H. BORDEN, H. D. PIERCE, JR., and A. C. OEHLSCHLAGER. 1981. Attraction of Hylemya antiqua (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) in the field to host-produced oviposition stimulants and their nonhost analogues. Can. J. Zool. 59: 872-881. Because of low, natural population levels, laboratory-reared Hylemya antiqua were employed in evaluating chemical attractants in the field. Of 13 chemicals (held in paraffin oil for slow release) tested in buried, partially enclosed water traps, dipropyl disulfide, propanethiol, dipropyl sulfide, propenyl propyl sulfide, 2-butyl propyl sulfide, dibutyl disulfide, and methyl butyl disulfide were attractive to H. antiqua. Males were approximately three times more responsive to these compounds than females. Females were twice as responsive to cut onions as males, and the rate of attraction increased for both sexes as the cut onions aged, and released more volatiles. Four combined onion-produced aldehydes (propionaldehyde, 2-methyl butanal, 2-methylpentanal, and trans-2-methyl-2-pentanal) were attractive to females but not to males. An aldehyde mixture plus a mixture of onion-produced thiopropyl-containing compounds was additive in attractiveness to males and females.