Fractions obtained by chromatographic separation of extracts and volatiles from maleRhagoletis cerasi flies were tested for biological activity on females under laboratory conditions. During the bioassays, the number of incoming flies as well as the time spent by individual flies on the area of stimulus were taken under consideration. Two distinct types of female behavior were observed, i.e., attraction and arrestant behavior. GC-MS analysis of biologically active fractions resulted in tentative identification of 75 compounds. EAG screening for 27 of these compounds was performed, and subsequent laboratory bioassays resulted in the confirmation of arrestant activity for various mixtures of eight fatty acids (octadecanoic, nonadecanoic, eicosatetraenoic, eicosapenaenoic, eicosaenoic, heneicosanoic, docosahexenoic, and docosanoic). Following EAG tests and laboratory bioassays, a possible mode of chemical communication of this species with sex pheromones is proposed.

Fourteen species of Erythrina were characterized for the total alkaloids content, both in the free form and as glycosides, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Thirteen alkaloids were identified in all, the most common being erysodine, erysovine, and erysopine. A number of unknown or unidentified were also noted.

The search for effective female attractants emanating from the host or body of fruit flies has been an area of intensive research for over three decades. In the present study, bodies of male Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), were extracted with diethyl ether or methanol and subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Analysis revealed substantial qualitative and quantitative differences between males from a laboratory culture and wild males captured alive in an orchard. Most notably, the hydrocarbon sesquiterpene (±)-α -copaene, which is known to be involved in the sexual behaviour of the species, was found in substantial amounts in wild males, but was not detected in laboratory males. In laboratory tests, 15 laboratory or wild male equivalents of diethyl ether extracts or combined diethyl ether and methanol extracts, or, to a lesser extent, methanol extracts alone, were found to attract virgin females. In a citrus orchard, traps baited with combined diethyl ether and methanol extracts of wild males attracted significantly more virgin females than traps baited with various doses of pyranone or blends of other compounds identified in the extracts or reported in the literature, such as ethyl acetate, ethyl-( E )-3-octenoate, and 1-pyrroline. Traps baited with blends of compounds, however, displayed substantial attractiveness compared to control (non-baited) traps. These results are important for better understanding the mating system of C. capitata as well as for further improving existing monitoring and control systems.

Trapping is considered a powerful tool in the monitoring and control of fruit flies of high economic importance such as the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). However, the cost of trapping and, in some cases, the safety of the chemicals used as baits are concerning for growers and the environment. Here we present a novel, low cost, environmentally friendly, female-specific bait for C. capitata, called Biodelear, that consists of a mixture of attracting compounds such us pyrazines, pyranones and amorphous nitrogen-based polymers. The new bait was compared to the commercially available attractant Biolure® (Suterra LLC, Bend, OR, USA) in Greece. McPhail-type traps were deployed in an orange orchard located in Athens. Five traps per treatment were used for several weeks during 2009 and four traps per treatment in 2010. Traps contained either 17 g of Biodelear or one Biolure Unipack dispenser. The results showed that both baits were highly efficient in attracting C. capitata females, and to a lesser extent, males. Although Biolure initially appeared to outperform Biodelear, later in the season the two attractants converged in efficacy. In both years, female captures were similar in traps baited with Biolure and Biodelear. However, male captures were higher in Biodelear-baited traps in 2010. In addition, Biodelear seemed to be longer lasting than Biolure, despite not being formulated into a slow-release dispersion system. The low cost of Biodelear and its strong, long-lasting effects render it suitable for mass trapping of the Mediterranean fruit fly.

l,5,7-Trioxaspiro[5.5]undecane, an analog of the major sex pheromone (olean) of the olive fruit fly, was synthesized via two different routes and tested for biological activity under laboratory and field conditions. In laboratory tests, its activity was comparable to that of olean, especially when a stabilizer or a high concentration was used. In field tests, its activity reached the level of olean only when a stabilizer and an open-type dispenser, which allows high rates of evaporation, were used. The residual activity of the analog dispensers did not exceed two weeks both under laboratory and field conditions compared to over four months for olean.