CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

In Anastrepha fraterculus, as in many other Tephritidae species, sexual behavior and mating success can be modulated by exposure to plant chemicals. Previous studies showed that A. fraterculus males exposed to volatile compounds released by guava (Psidium guava) fruit exhibit increased courtship frequency and mating success. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between male sexual maturation and guava effects on the courtship behavior of A. fraterculus males. Particularly, we evaluated whether exposure to guava fruit volatiles accelerate male sexual maturation and whether increased courtship displays after guava exposure depend on sexual maturation status at the time males are exposed to these volatiles. In a first experiment, we estimated the time at which males attain sexual maturation by monitoring courtship behavior in groups of five males, which could be either exposed or non-exposed to guava volatiles, during 12 days after emergence. In a second experiment, we compared courtship index (number of courting males/matured males) between males exposed to guava volatiles before or after sexual maturation and non-exposed males. Although our results confirmed the expected courtship index increase in exposed males, we did not find evidence of an effect of exposure on sexual maturation. However, the effect of exposure on courtship index did depend on sexual maturation status: the effect was only detected for males that were mature at exposure time. Guava is believed to be the primary native host of this fruit fly species and represents a natural female congregation site. Therefore, the relationship found between male sexual maturation and guava effects on courtship behavior supports the idea that some guava chemicals may act on males as proxies of mating opportunities.