Response of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) to synthetic semiochemicals.

CARRIZO, B.; RUIZ, M. J.; GOANE, L.; BACHMANN, G.; MILLA, F.; SEGURA, D.F.; KUZMICH, D.; WALSE, S. ; VERA, M.T.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; 6th Congress of the Latin American Association of Chemical Ecology; 2021

Anastrepha fraterculus is an important fruit pest in South America. Synthetic semiochemicals are not available to monitor its presence in the field. This study was conducted to determine the attractiveness of three synthetic semiochemicals. Attraction was tested on mature copulated males and females, and mature virgin females (10 to 14 days old) from a laboratory strain. The semiochemicals evaluated were epianastrephin (EAG+), anastrephin (EAG-) (70:30 and 95:5) and a synthetic epianastrephin analog with two methyl groups (dimethyl). A natural pheromone release unit (10 sexually mature males) was used as positive control and water as negative control. One hundred flies of a given sex or mating condition were released in cylindrical field cages (3 m diameter x 2 m high) under natural conditions. Attractants were placed in McPhail traps (one trap with attractant and one trap with water per cage). Ten repetitions were performed per treatment. The number of flies captured in the trap with attractant was compared to the control trap (water) within each treatment (semiochemical, sex and mating condition in females) by means of a t test for paired samples (one-tail). A GLM was used to compare attractants. Mated males were significantly more attracted to dimethyl and epianastrephin 70:30 than to the control (P=0.0134 and P=0.0500, respectively). Mated females were significantly more attracted to the lek than to the control (P=0.0348). Virgin females were significantly more attracted to epianastrephin 70:30, epianastrephin 95:5 and the lek than to the control (P= 0.0413, P=0.0288 and P=0.0231). Results from the GLM showed that the highest attraction occurred for epianastrephin 70:30 in virgin females. Our bioassays performed under semi-field conditions showed that traps baited with synthetic semiochemicals are attractive to A. fraterculus males and females. Following validation under open field conditions, these specific semiochemicals could be used for pest monitoring.