Screening of potential oviposition deterrents for Oriental fruit fly

Authors: ROH, GWANG HYUN - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE); Zhu, Junwei - Jerry; Epsky, Nancy; Kendra, Paul; Cha, Dong

Submitted to: Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2019
Publication Date: 7/21/2019
Citation: Roh, G., Zhu, J.J., Epsky, N.D., Kendra, P.E., Cha, D.H. 2019. Screening of potential oviposition deterrents for Oriental fruit fly [abstract]. Florida Entomological Society Annual Meeting. 21-24 July 2019.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, is an economically damaging, polyphagous pest of fruit crops. It is native to Southeast Asia, but there have been multiple invasions to Florida and California that result in large economic damage due to loss of agricultural crops and expensive quarantine treatments. Gravid females oviposit in mature fruit while they are still on the trees, and immature flies (larvae) feed on the fruit, making it unmarketable. Preventing oviposition by B. dorsalis females in host fruit may assist in mitigating the impact of this pest. Thus, we are screening multiple potential oviposition deterrents for B. dorsalis. In initial laboratory choice bioassays, some of the screened chemicals and their derivatives were effective in significantly reducing oviposition from gravid female flies, suggesting that these putative oviposition deterrents can be useful to reduce oviposition, thus managing the impact of B. dorsalis. These deterrents could be helpful tools in areas where B. dorsalis is established and perhaps for limiting the impact of incursions.