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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #108300
Title: METHYL ANTHRANILATE ATTRACTS MALES OF THAUMATOMYIA GLABRA (MEIGEN) (DIPTERA: CHLOROPIDAE)

Author
item Landolt, Peter
item Wixson, Thomas
item Rehmke, Laura
item Lewis, Richard
item ZACK, RICHARD - WSU

Submitted to: Journal of Kansas Entomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2000
Publication Date: 6/1/2001
Citation: Landolt, P.J., Wixson, T.T., Rehmke, L.J., Lewis, R.R., Zack, R.S. 2001. Methyl anthranilate attracts males of Thaumatomyia glabra (Meigen) (Diptera: Chloropidae). Journal of Kansas Entomological Society. 73:189-194.

Interpretive Summary: New approaches and methods are needed to manage and control insect pests of agricultural crops without the use of pesticides that are harmful to the environment and human health. Biological control of pest insects by predators and parasites is an important alternative to pesticide use. However, methods are needed to monitor the presence and success of biological control agents. At the USDA-ARS Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory, scientists discovered that males of the fly Thaumatomyia glabra, an important predator of aphids that damage sugar beets, are attracted to the chemical methyl anthranilate. This chemical can be formulated for use in commercially available traps and should be a useful method of determining the presence or absence of this fly on sugar beet and other crops.

Technical Abstract: Thaumatomyia glabra (Meigen) flies were observed at a blueberry- scented candle at an open window. Significant numbers of males of this fly subsequently were captured in traps baited with a piece of the same type of candle, compared to numbers captured in unbaited traps. GC-MS analysis of a volatile collection made from air passed over a blueberry-scented candle revealed the presence of a number of chemicals, including methyl anthranilate. In field tests, significant numbers of male T. glabra were captured in traps baited with methyl anthranilate applied to a filter paper. Numbers of males captured in traps increased significantly with the dose of methyl anthranilate applied to a filter paper in the trap, through the highest dose tested (140 ug per paper). In a direct comparison of methyl anthranilate (140 ug) and scented candle, greater numbers of flies were captured in traps baited with methyl anthranilate.