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Title: Physical and physiological factors influence behavioral responses of Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to synthetic attractants

Author
item Chaudhury, Muhammad
item Zhu, Junwei - Jerry
item Skoda, Steven

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2017
Publication Date: 8/1/2017
Citation: Chaudhury, M.F., Zhu, J.J., Skoda, S.R. 2017. Physical and physiological factors influence behavioral responses of Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to synthetic attractants. Journal of Economic Entomology. 110(4):1929-1934.

Interpretive Summary: Waste screwworm larval rearing media as well as bovine blood inoculated with bacteria isolated from screwworm-infested wounds produce volatile substances which attract gravid females of primary and secondary screwworms. Chemicals identified from the volatiles that attract gravid female screwworm flies to deposit eggs included dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, phenol, p-cresol, and indole. Present studies investigated the effectiveness of these chemicals as potential oviposition attractants, either singly or in combination. Tests were conducted to determine the effects of sex, stage of ovary development, and the color and type of egg-laying surface on response of secondary screwworm flies. Surfaces treated with dimethyl trisulfide alone or a five-compound blend alone attracted more gravid females. Black surface treated with dimethyl trisulfide attracted more gravid females than did the yellow surface. However, yellow surface treated with indole attracted more males and nongravid females. In oviposition tests, females laid more eggs on a meat-covered surface and the five-compound blend than the surface without meat and the five-compound blend. These results indicate that several factors have to be considered for developing an effective oviposition attractant that include effectiveness of individual chemicals used, the ratio of the chemicals in a blend, and their concentrations. Also, an effective trap design will need to consider using suitable color which will selectively attract gravid females.

Technical Abstract: Volatile chemicals from waste artificial larval media as well as from bovine blood inoculated with bacteria isolated from screwworm-infested wounds attract gravid females of Cochliomyia hominivorax Coquerel and C. macellaria (F.). Chemicals previously identified from volatiles are dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, phenol, p-cresol and indole; a blend of these attracted females to oviposit. Present studies investigated the effectiveness of these compounds, either in a blend or individually as potential oviposition attractants. Tests were conducted to determine the effects of sex, ovarian age, and the color and type of substrates on attraction response and oviposition of C. macellaria adults. Results showed that substrates treated with dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) alone or the 5-compound blend alone attracted significantly more gravid females. Black substrates treated with DMTS attracted more gravid flies than did the yellow substrates. Yellow substrates treated with indole attracted more males and nongravid females. In oviposition tests, females deposited significantly more eggs on meat-based substrates than those without meat. These findings suggest that several factors have to be considered for developing an effective oviposition attractant that should include effectiveness of individual chemicals used, the ratio of the chemicals in a blend, and their concentrations. Also, an effective trap design will need to consider using suitable color which will selectively attract gravid females.