Detection of Volatile Constituents from Food Lures by Tephritid Fruit Flies.

Tibebe Biasazin,Teun Dekker,Sebastian Herrera,Haimanot Chernet,Miriam Karlsson,Joelle Lemmen-Lechelt,Marie Bengtsson

doi:10.3390/insects9030119

Abstract

Tephritid fruit flies require protein for sexual and gonotrophic development. Food-based lures are therefore widely used in strategies to detect and control fruit flies in the Tephritidae family. However, these baits are attractive to a broad range of insect species. We therefore sought to identify volatiles detected by the fly antennae, with the goal to compose lures that more specifically target tephritids. Using gas chromatography-coupled electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) we screened for antennal responses of four important tephritid species to volatile compounds from five commercially available protein-based baits. Antennal active compounds were reconstituted in synthetic blends for each species and used in behavioral assays. These species-based blends were attractive in olfactometer experiments, as was a blend composed of all antennally active compounds from all the four species we observed (tested only in Bactrocera dorsalis, Hendel). Pilot field tests indicate that the blends need to be further evaluated and optimized under field conditions.

Highlights

Fruit flies in the family Tephritidae are among the most economically important pests worldwide, and are a major threat to fruit production in Africa
The host range of tephritid flies varies with species, some being polyphagous, such as B. dorsalis, B. zonata and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), whereas others are oligophagous (Z. cucurbitae) or even monophagous (Bactrocera oleae, Rossi) [6]
Bactrocera dorsalis responded to nine compounds, B. zonata to ten compounds, C. capitata to eleven compounds, and Z. cucurbitae to six compounds

Summary

Introduction

Fruit flies in the family Tephritidae are among the most economically important pests worldwide, and are a major threat to fruit production in Africa Some of these fruit flies have been introduced outside their region of origin and become invasive pests [1]. The host range of tephritid flies varies with species, some being polyphagous, such as B. dorsalis, B. zonata and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), whereas others are oligophagous (Z. cucurbitae) or even monophagous (Bactrocera oleae, Rossi) [6]. In spite of their diverse oviposition substrates, all adult tephritid species need proteinaceous substrates for sexual maturation and development of ovaries [7,8]. Females, extensively forage for proteinaceous food sources [9]

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