Fruit supplement in the adult diet to improve mating performance of Anastrepha fraterculus males

MT VERA; MJ RUIZ; A OVIEDO; S ABRAHAM; M MENDOZA; SEGURA, DF; NA KOULOUSSIS; E WILLINK

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2013 p. 1 - 9

0931-2048

Although exposure to plants has been shown to influence sexual behaviour in a number of phytophagous insect species, a relatively small number of fruit flies have been investigated to that respect. Here we evaluated the effect of exposure to the pulp of guava and mango and to essential oils emanating from glands in the flavedo area of lemons on the mating competitiveness of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) males. We also evaluated different durations of exposure and the need for physical contact with the fruit. Results showed that exposure to guava increased the mating success of both wild and laboratory males relative to non-exposed males. In addition, exposed wild flies started copulating faster than non-exposed males. Physical contact with the fruit or ingestion of compounds was not a prerequisite for this phenomenon to occur, since exposure to just volatiles resulted in a significant enhancement in mating competitiveness. Males exposed to mango did not affect male sexual performance. On the other hand, exposure to lemon for one day decreased mating success of males relative to unexposed males, whereas exposure for longer periods seemed to eliminate this effect resulting in comparable mating competitiveness rates between treated and untreated males. These results provide a better understanding of the sexual behaviour of this species and may also find application for its control.