Role of GuavaVolatilesonAnastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) Male Sexual Display and PheromoneRelease. 9th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance. May 2014,

BACHMANN, GUILLERMO; SEGURA, ; VERA; TEAL; RUIZ; JUÁREZ; CLADERA; FERNÁNDEZ

Bangok

Simposio; 9th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance; 2014

During courtship males release pheromone while perform sexual displays. Preexposure to certain fruit volatiles enhances males sexual competitiveness. 1. MATING TEST. Males were exposed to guava and then offered, individually, to females together with non-exposed males. Female choice, latency to mate and mating duration were recorded. Males were then assigned into one of four possible categories: guava exposed (E) or not exposed (noE), and successful (+) or unsuccessful (-) in mating. 2. SEXUAL DISPLAYS. Males from each group were observed during the sexual activity peak. Number of males fanning the wings and expanding the salivary glands (reservoirs of pheromone) were recorded every 15 min. 3. PHEROMONE SAMPLING. Volatiles emitted by each male type were collected and adsorbed in Hayesep cartridges. Volatiles were desorbed with dichloromethane and analyzed by GC-FID. Main pheromonal compounds were identified by standards. guillermobachmann@gmail.com We evaluated the effect of guava volatiles preexposure on mating success, pheromone emission and sexual displays. Preexposure to guava volatiles increased the probability of male mating success.  This phenomenon appears to be mediated by an increase in the proportion of males able to release pheromone to levels that conferred a greater acceptance by females.  Visual displays such as the expansion of the salivary glands and fanning could also play a role in female mating choice.  Further studies should assess differences in short distance cues as the cuticular composition of males after exposure.