PVC Formulation of Anastrepha suspensa Pheromones Suitable for Field Studies

Abstract

Abstract Tephritid flies threaten the production of fruits around the world. In the Americas, populations of the genus Anastrepha are monitored with trapping networks as part of pest management programs. Here, we report the formulation of male Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) pheromones, (±)-anastrephin and (±)-epianastrephin, into a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) polymer-based lure ready for trap deployment. The PVC polymer disks (100 mg) contain 10% by weight of (±)-epianastrephin and (±)-anastrephin in a naturally occurring 7:3 diastereomeric ratio, respectively. Emission of the pheromones from the disks into an airstream was evaluated as a function of abiotic environmental parameters, absolute humidity, and temperature. Kinetic data supports a diffusion-controlled mechanism of release from the matrix with first-order rate constants that decreased about 10-fold as the temperature was lowered from 30 to 15 °C. As such, the emission of volatile pheromones from the disks is suitable to last for several weeks in the field. This kinetic approach, which can be easily extended to the diffusion-controlled release of other attractants from polymeric matrices, yields laboratory predictions of the potential for environmental loss prior to conducting field bioassays.