Plant Odors as Fruit Fly Attractants

Abstract

Plant odors consist of a mixture of volatile compounds that are conveyed by diffusion through air and may disperse over a long distance. They play a major role in mediating insect-plant relationships, particularly food location and selection of suitable sites for mating or oviposition. This chapter presents state-of-the-art research on the response of fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) to plant odors and their potential for the development of trapping systems. Main research results from Tephritids of economic importance (i.e., Rhagoletis, Ceratitis, Bactrocera/Dacus, and Anastrepha) show evidence of response to (i) general plant volatiles from host or non-host plants, the so-called 'green leaf volatiles', (ii) essential oils from host or non-host plants, and (iii) fruit odors (whole fruit, wounded or crushed fruit, extracts, etc.). Synergies between plant odors and food odors or sex pheromones are also addressed. Factors including insect physiology (age, mating status, egg load, etc.), experience (learning), and genetic background can substantially modify the response pattern to plant odors.One of the main challenges of using plant odors as fruit fly attractant is to improve the technology for identification (analysis), synthesis and emission (dispensers) of key compounds that may compete with natural volatile blends in the field. Further research should include the role of microorganisms in host location and recognition by fruit flies. Synthetic plant odors could be used either as kairomones for trapping systems, as allomones to push flies away from the crop or to disrupt host location, or as synomones to attract natural enemies to the crop.

Co-Infestation and Spatial Distribution ofBactrocera carambolaeandAnastrephaspp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Common Guava in the Eastern Amazon

“…B. carambolae represented 24.9 and 21.3% of all fruit flies reared from fruit collected in Calçoene and Oiapoque, respectively, with a higher abundance in coinfested fruit ( Table 2 ). Several studies have demonstrated that species within the dorsalis complex have a marked preference for ripe fruit (cf Alyokhin et al 2000 , Cornelius et al 2000 , Rattanapun et al 2009 , Quilici et al 2014 ). Even though B. carambolae belongs to the dorsalis complex, there are no studies on the influence of the degree of fruit ripeness on female oviposition decision in this species.…”

Mediterranean fruit fly subplot hot spots prediction by experts' experience

“…Such ecological factors were suggested to form a composite predation and hot spot effect, modulated by microclimate preferences in habitat selection, such as trees with denser canopies that provide better shade and shelter (Field, Kaspi, & Yuval, ). Medfly male spatial distribution might often be affected also by plant volatiles, especially the male attractant terpene α‐copaene (Juan‐Blasco et al., ; Quilici, Atiama‐Nurbel, & Brévault, ; Shelly, ), which can demonstrate high variability both between individual trees and even within trunk and branches of specific trees (Shelly & Villalobos, ).…”

Laboratory Evaluation of Natural and Synthetic Aromatic Compounds as Potential Attractants for Male Mediterranean fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata

“…Current management strategies for medfly include the use of trimedlure-baited traps for pest detection and monitoring and the release of sterile male flies for population suppression [2,3,4,10,11,12]. Trimedlure, tert-butyl 4(and 5)-chloro-2-methylcyclohexane- l-carboxylate (C 12 H 21 ClO 2 ), is a synthetic attractant with a mixture of different diastereomers.…”

“…Trimedlure, tert-butyl 4(and 5)-chloro-2-methylcyclohexane- l-carboxylate (C 12 H 21 ClO 2 ), is a synthetic attractant with a mixture of different diastereomers. Of these isomers, (+)-trimedlure-C was found to be the most attractive [12]. The development of male lures for C. capitata has a long history of success.…”