Chemical Ecology of Dacinae Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

There are more than 700 described species of Dacinae fruit flies, whose immature stages develop in many species of fleshy fruits found in tropical and subtropical rain forests. Most of these species are monophagous or stenophagous, but a few species are polyphagous. The Dacinae have a complex chemical ecology, responding to sex pheromones produced by females, aphrodisiac pheromones produced by males, plant kairomones that function as male lures, and plant-produced oviposition stimulants. This review focuses on current understanding of Dacinae chemical ecology as it relates to evolution, host selection, reproduction, adult behavior, and control of these fruit flies.