EFFECT OF PLANT CHEMICALS ON THE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OF A PHYTOPHAGOUS TEPHRITIDAE FLY.

VERA M. T.; BACHMANN, G. E.; FERNÁNDEZ, P.; KALINOVÁ, B.; DEVESCOVI, F.; JUÁREZ M. L.; BRÍZOVÁ, R; RUIZ, M. J.; SEGURA, D.

Congreso; 1st Joint Meeting ISCE/ALAEQ; 2016

Tephritidae flies show a wide range of mating systems. In polyphagous species, female location is less predictable and males aggregate in groups (termed leks) to release a sex pheromone. Once the females are at the lek, chemical and physical signals are display and females choose a partner. Plant chemical compounds have been found to affect sexual communication in some of these species. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of fruit volatiles in the sexual communication of the South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), an economically important fruit pest. First, we exposed malesto different fruit species and addressed if this modified their sexual performance. Then,we tested if the release rate of key components of male borne volatiles or the cuticle chemical profile wereaffected after exposure to guava volatiles. We found that guava fruit volatiles positively affected male sexual performance, whereas other fruit did not. In addition, guava volatiles exposure enhanced male calling behavior and the amount of (E,E -α-farnesene, anastrephin, epianastrephin and suspensolide collected in male borne volatiles. Exposure to an artificial blend, comprised of a subset of synthetic compounds present in guava fruit, also enhanced mating success. Yet, the chemical profiles of malevolatiles and cuticle extracts did not differ qualitatively between exposed and nonexposed males. Finally, we addressed whether mating with an exposed male provided the female a direct benefit in terms of fitness. Females mated with males exposed to guava have higher fecundity than that mated with non-exposed males. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the reproductive system of A. fraterculus in a chemical context, in which the host plant seems to have a significant role. These and further studies may provide new tools for the management of this pest through the sterile insect technique by enhancing sexual performance of sterile males.