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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #266021
Title: Identification of oviposition attractants of the secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.) released from rotten chicken liver

Author
item Zhu, Junwei - Jerry
item Chaudhury, Muhammad
item TANGTRAKULWANICH, KHANOBPORN - University Of Nebraska
item Skoda, Steven

Submitted to: Journal of Chemical Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/13/2013
Publication Date: 10/31/2013
Citation: Zhu, J.J., Chaudhury, M.F., Tangtrakulwanich, K., Skoda, S.R. 2013. Identification of oviposition attractants of the secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.) released from rotten chicken liver. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 39(11-12):1407-1414. DOI: 10.1007/S10886-013-0359-Z.

Interpretive Summary: The secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (L.) is an economically important species to both livestock and humans causing economic losses through mechanical transmission of pathogenic disease agents and facultative myiasis. The adult flies are attracted to decomposing carcasses, carrion or rotten meat to deposit their eggs; the hatched larvae develop on these decaying organic matters. This research was conducted to identify volatiles emitted from rotten livers that cause attraction and oviposition by gravid females.

Technical Abstract: The secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.), is an important blowfly species affecting both livestock and humans. It can transmit pathogenic disease agents mechanically and is an agent of facultative myiasis, which leads to economic losses. The adult flies are attracted to decomposing carcasses, carrion, or rotten meat in order to deposit their eggs, and the hatched larvae develop on these decaying organic materials. This research was aimed to identify volatiles emitted from rotten chicken livers that were reported previously to attract gravid females. In laboratory oviposition assays, gravid females laid significantly more eggs on rotten livers than on fresh livers, and rotten chicken liver was more attractive than rotten beef liver. Volatiles from the two livers were collected using solid phase microextraction. Significantly different volatile profiles were detected from the rotten livers of beef and chicken. Electroantennography (EAG) was performed to determine antennal responses to chemicals released from the most attractive chicken liver that are candidate oviposition attractants. Seven compounds from rotten chicken liver elicited significant EAG responses from antennae of gravid females. Oviposition assays showed that the 7-component blend stimulated gravid females to lay significantly more eggs than the other combinations tested. This 7-component blend may have potential for use in monitoring and sampling populations of secondary screwworm and their associated disease epidemiology.