Quantification of Ammonia Release from Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Attractants Using Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

Ammonia is the primary attractant for tephritid fruit flies, and traps baited with synthetic attractants using ammonia formulations have been highly successful in capturing these pests. However, difficulties in quantifying release rates of ammonia have limited abilities to make comparisons among field tests of different species by using different formulations. Therefore, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was evaluated as a method to quantify ammonia from synthetic lures. Analysis of the headspace from commercial ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium acetate lures indicated that there is a large burst of ammonia liberated upon initial exposure of the lures, but after 5-7 d the release rates stabilize and remain steady for at least 60 d under laboratory conditions. During the period of steady release, FTIR st atic measurements showed a n average of 0.12 and 0.21 microg of ammonia per 50-ml sample from ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium acetate lures, respectively. FTIR dynamic measurements from ammonium acetate lures indicated a steady release rate of approximately 200 microg/h. Ammonia release rate from ammonium acetate lures could be reduced by decreasing the surface area of the release membrane, and the presence of crystal formations on the membrane seemed to decrease the longevity of the ammonium acetate lures.

RESPONSE OF THE OLIVE FRUIT FLY, Bactrocera oleae ROSSI TO SOME AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS AND CERTAIN FOOD ATTRACTANTS UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS IN OLIVE ORCHARDS

“…Such differences of response could be interpreted when considering the effect roles of climatic factors (the variation of environmental conditions), fruiting period and difference in response among species, Anastrepha spp. was attracted to liquid lures in the dry season than in wet season (Heath et al 2007). Similarly, Yee et al (2005) reported that ammonium carbonate was a superior lure for apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) than fruit volatiles in the relatively dry climate of the western U.S. but not in the eastern U.S. Our results varied among trials, perhaps in part because of the different environmental conditions.…”

“…Ammonia is the primary attractant for tephritid fruit flies, and traps baited with synthetic attractants using ammonia formulations have been highly successful in capturing these pests. Commercial formulations of ammonium acetate and ammonium bicarbonate are available as lures for use in fruit fly traps (Heath et al 2007). The ammonium bicarbonate decomposes slowly to ammonia, a powerful food attractant for all the fruit flies (Ragoussis, 2002).…”

Attraction of the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, to Avocado, Lychee, and Essential Oil Lures

“…Two additional field tests conducted in 2010 (Kendra et al unpublished) confirmed a maximum field life of 2-3 wk for this lure in Florida. Further work is needed to determine the effective loading dosage of manuka oil as well as the release rates of individual attractive components (i.e., α-copaene, calamenene), as has been quantified for other insect lures (Heath et al, 2007). Published chemical analyses of manuka oil have shown a high degree of variability among extracts from trees of different geographic regions in New Zealand (Porter and Wilkins, 1998), which may also contribute to variability in attraction of X. glabratus.…”

Ammonia Formulations and Capture of Anastrepha Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

“…A reduced dosage of lure from the packet was obtained by covering half of the release membrane with metallic tape (United Tape Co., Cummings, GA), whereas a fully exposed membrane delivered the high dose. Under laboratory conditions, the ammonia release rates have been quantified as -280 and -165 pg per h for the full and half lure, respectively (Heath et al 2007). For ammonium bicarbonate we used the AgriSenSe TM lure (AgriSenSe BCS Ltd., Mid Glamorgan, South Wales, UK), a 20 g injection molded polymer which is 48% ammonium bicarbonate.…”

“…For ammonium bicarbonate we used the AgriSenSe TM lure (AgriSenSe BCS Ltd., Mid Glamorgan, South Wales, UK), a 20 g injection molded polymer which is 48% ammonium bicarbonate. Compared with the BioLure, ammonia release was about 50% less from the AgriSense ammonium bicarbonate lure, -145 pg per h (Heath et al 2007). Thus, 1 AgriSense lure was deployed for the low dose and 2 lures for the high dose, the lure(s) suspended in the trap with a twist tie.…”