Response of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) to synthetic semiochemicals

B. CARRIZO, J. RUIZ; L. GOANE, G. BACHMANN, F. MILLA, D. SEGURA, D KUZMICH; S. WALSE; M.T. VERA

Congreso; 6th of the Latin American Association of chemical Ecology; 2021

Anastrepha fraterculus is an important fruit pest in South America. Synthetic semiochemicals are notavailable to monitor its presence in the field. This study was conducted to determine the attractivenessof three synthetic semiochemicals. Attraction was tested on mature copulated males and females, andmature virgin females (10 to 14 days old) from a laboratory strain. The semiochemicals evaluated wereepianastrephin (EAG+), anastrephin (EAG-) (70:30 and 95:5) and a synthetic epianastrephin analogwith two methyl groups (dimethyl). A natural pheromone release unit (10 sexually mature males) wasused as positive control and water as negative control. One hundred flies of a given sex or matingcondition were released in cylindrical field cages (3 m diameter x 2 m high) under natural conditions.Attractants were placed in McPhail traps (one trap with attractant and one trap with water per cage).Ten repetitions were performed per treatment. The number of flies captured in the trap with attractantwas compared to the control trap (water) within each treatment (semiochemical, sex and matingcondition in females) by means of a t test for paired samples (one-tail). A GLM was used to compareattractants. Mated males were significantly more attracted to dimethyl and epianastrephin 70:30 than tothe control (P=0.0134 and P=0.0500, respectively). Mated females were significantly more attracted tothe lek than to the control (P=0.0348). Virgin females were significantly more attracted to epianastrephin70:30, epianastrephin 95:5 and the lek than to the control (P= 0.0413, P=0.0288 and P=0.0231). Resultsfrom the GLM showed that the highest attraction occurred for epianastrephin 70:30 in virgin females.Our bioassays performed under semi-field conditions showed that traps baited with syntheticsemiochemicals are attractive to A. fraterculus males and females. Following validation under open fieldconditions, these specific semiochemicals could be used for pest monitoring.