Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) female preference for lemon and grapefruit peel volatiles.

RUIZ, M. J; JUÁREZ, M. L.; GOANE, L.; LOPEZ, M.L.; SEGURA, D.; VERA M. T.

Simposio; 9 rEUNIÓN DEL GRUPO DE TRABAJO MOSCAS DE LA FRUTA DEL HEMISFERIO OCCIDENTAL; 2016

In phytophagous insects the ability to locate and lay eggs in hosts that maximizesurvival and development of their offspring is determined, in part, by physicaland chemical cues from the plant. Previous studies on the interaction between theSouth American fruit fly, A. fraterculus, and various Citrus species, showed thatfemales are able to discriminate non-hosts like lemon [C. limon (L.) Burm.] fromsuitable hosts such as grapefruit [C. paradisi Macfadyen]. This ability is reflected ina difference in the number of eggs laid in each species in choice tests. The objectiveof this study was to evaluate if mated A. fraterculus females use peel essential oilsto discriminate between lemon and grapefruit, using dual choice test in a glass tube(50 cm length). At each end of the tube a filter paper with 5 μl of each essential oilwas placed and a female was released in the center of the tube. The location of thefemale was observed for 10 min after release. Areas of ?choice? and ?no choice?were defined inside the tube and the time spent in each area was recorded. Thetime spent in each stimuli showed no statistically significant differences (z = 0.23,p = 0.8182) between lemon and grapefruit. Based on these results we have yet notevidence to conclude that A. fraterculus females use cues from peel volatiles todiscriminate lemon from grapefruit in their oviposition preference.