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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #172092
Title: EFFECT OF AGE OF ELECTROANTENNOGRAPHIC AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES OF CARIBBEAN FRUIT FLY (DEPTERA:TEPHRITIDAE) TO AMMONIA AND CARBON DIOXIDE.

Author
item Kendra, Paul
item Montgomery, Wayne
item Mateo, Daniel
item Puche, Helena
item Epsky, Nancy
item Heath, Robert

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/16/2004
Publication Date: 11/16/2004
Citation: Kendra, P.E., Montgomery, W.S., Mateo, D.M., Puche, H., Epsky, N.D., Heath, R.R. 2004. Effect of Age of Electroantennographic and Behavioral Responses of Caribbean Fruit Fly (Deptera:Tephritidae) to Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide.. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting.

Interpretive Summary: ABSTRACT ONLY

Technical Abstract: Current ammonia-based lures vary considerably in their ability to attract Anastrepha fruit flies in the field, and this variability does not appear to be related solely to ammonia release rate. Electroantennography (EAG) and flight tunnel bioassays were used to examine the effect of age on fly response to ammonia and carbon dioxide, two volatiles released from commercial ammonium bicarbonate lures. EAG measurements from female Caribbean fruit flies, A. suspensa (Loew), showed that ammonia generated a larger amplitude EAG response in sexually immature flies than in mature flies. Conversely, carbon dioxide elicited stronger EAG responses in mature females. In flight tunnel bioassays, both age groups responded positively to ammonia in doses ranging from 60-3840 'g/h, but captures of immature flies declined with increasing ammonia concentration, suggesting repellency at high doses for the immature group. Carbon dioxide, ranging from 300-7200 'g/h, did not capture any flies when presented alone in the flight tunnel. However, carbon dioxide in combination with ammonia was more attractive than ammonia alone, but only for sexually mature flies. These age-related differences in response to ammonia and carbon dioxide may account for some of the variability observed in field tests with ammonium bicarbonate lures