From a non‐target to a target: identification of a fermentation volatile blend attractive to Zaprionus indianus

Abstract

The African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus Gupta, is rapidly spreading through the New World and is a new potential pest for numerous fruit crops. Methods are needed to detect and monitor Z. indianus. A recent study shows that Z. indianus can be attracted with a mixture of wine and vinegar, but there are no chemical attractants yet identified. This fly was captured incidentally as a non‐target insect in experiments to develop chemical lures, based on wine and vinegar fermentation volatiles, for Drosophila suzukii Matsumura and Drosophila melanogaster Meigen. We then generated testable hypotheses on what combination of these volatiles was involved in Z. indianus attraction to wine and vinegar. We determined through a series of trapping experiments that the blend of ethanol, acetic acid, acetoin, isoamyl acetate, methionol and ethyl hexanoate constitutes a strong attractant for Z. indianus and accounts for its attraction to the combination of wine and vinegar. These results and findings provide the first opportunity to develop a long‐lasting and consistent chemical lure for trapping of Z. indianus. Such a lure in a suitable trap should provide a good means to document the spread of the fly and determine its seasonality and abundance in new areas and crops.

Trapping system comparisons for and factors affecting populations of Drosophila suzukii and Zaprionus indianus in winter‐grown strawberry

“…However, it may be able to colonize fruit already compromised by D. suzukii , thus accelerating fruit decomposition and exacerbating damage. Zaprionus indianus is captured incidentally in traps for D. suzukii , as it is attracted to wine, vinegar and some of the same compounds as D. suzukii . Determining which attractants are also most effective for Z. indianus will help combine trapping and monitoring efforts for both pests in regions in which they co‐occur.…”

Comparison of attractants for monitoring Drosophila suzukii in sweet cherry orchards in Italy

“…To date, different types of baits and lures for D. suzukii have been developed, in respect of the olfactory preference of the species which is sensitive to volatiles associated to both ripe and rotten fruits (Keesey et al, 2015). Among the different baits, all based on food attractants, the most widely used are fermenting substances (as apple cider vinegar [ACV]) either alone or in a mixture with wine or also in combination with peptides (Basoalto, Hilton, & Knight, 2013;Burrack et al, 2015;Cha et al, 2013Cha et al, , 2014Cha, Hesler, et al, 2015;Cha, Gill, et al, 2015;De los Santo Ramos, Bello, Gómez, Hernández, & Iribe, 2014;Grassi et al, 2015;Iglesias, Nyoike, & Liburd, 2014;Kleiber et al, 2014;Landolt, Adams, & Rogg, 2012;Lee et al, 2012Lee et al, , 2013. It is worth mentioning that yeast and microorganisms play an important role in determining the volatile profile of attractants (Hamby & Becher, 2016).…”

Development of Novel Management Tools for Phortica variegata (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Vector of the Oriental Eyeworm, Thelazia callipaeda (Spirurida: Thelaziidae), in Europe

“…The binary blend proved to be more attractive and selective when compared to traditional fruit-based baits ( Roggero et al 2010 ). This blend has previously been reported to be highly attractive to drosophilid species, such as D. suzukii and the African fig fly Zaprionus indianus ( Landolt et al 2012 , Cha et al 2015a ). Another congeneric species, Phortica semivirgo , has previously been found in traps filled with red wine and apple vinegar in Hungary ( Kerezsi et al 2019 ).…”