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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #232579
Title: Utility of electroantennography for development of food-based attractants for Anastrepha fruit flies

Author
item Kendra, Paul
item Montgomery, Wayne
item Epsky, Nancy
item Heath, Robert

Submitted to: Fruit Flies of the Western Hemisphere
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/19/2008
Publication Date: 11/4/2008
Citation: Kendra, P.E., Montgomery, W.S., Epsky, N.D., Heath, R.R. 2008. Utility of electroantennography for development of food-based attractants for Anastrepha fruit flies. Fruit Flies of the Western Hemisphere.

Interpretive Summary: n

Technical Abstract: Anastrepha fruit flies are serious economic pests of fruit crops throughout the American tropics and subtropics. Current trapping systems utilize synthetic lures that emit ammonia and other attractant chemicals that function as protein feeding cues. However, field captures are variable with synthetic lures, and this variability does not appear to be related solely to ammonia release rate. The need for improved attractants prompted research using electroantennography (EAG), a technique that measures response of antennal olfactory receptors to volatile chemical stimuli. All EAG analyses were conducted with the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), of known age and physiological state. Antennae were presented with chemical samples in vapor form, and EAG responses were recorded and normalized relative to a standard reference chemical. To date, our group has quantified response to ammonia, carbon dioxide, putrescine, and a series of diamines homologous to putrescine. Analysis of the amplitude of EAG response has provided information on appropriate doses and combinations of chemicals needed to elicit optimal antennal response. Comparative EAG has identified several factors that contribute to the variability in fly response to known food-based attractants, including sex, age, nutritional requirements, and reproductive status. EAG has provided insight into the antennal chemoreceptors involved in detection of semiochemicals, and has identified potential new fruit fly attractants. Information obtained from EAG analysis will be used to determine relationships between antennal sensitivity to fruit fly attractants and efficacy of those compounds when deployed in traps for capture of pest Anastrepha species.