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Title: FIELD RESPONSE OF MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLY (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) TO CERALURE B1: EVALUATIONS OF ENANTIOMERIC B1 RATIOS ON FLY CAPTURES.

Author
item Jang, Eric
item HOLLER, TIMOTHY - APHIS, GAINSVILLE, FL
item Khrimian, Ashot
item LUX, SLAWOMIR - ICIPE
item CASANA-GINER, VICTOR - GAT
item Carvalho, Lori

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/2005
Publication Date: 8/20/2005
Citation: Jang, E.B., Holler, T.C., Khrimian, A., Lux, S., Casana-Giner, V., Carvalho, L.A. 2005. Field Response of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Ceralure B1: Evaluations of Enantiomeric B1 Ratios on Fly Captures. Journal of Economic Entomology. 98(4):1139-1143.

Interpretive Summary: In this study we evaluated an improved attractant for male Mediterranean fruit fly in different areas of the world. We tested the new lure against the current standard male lure and evaluated the relative attraction of different ratios of the attractant against wild flies in Hawaii, Spain and Africa, as well as against sterile released flies in Florida. We found that the racemic lure (minus ceralure B1) is as good as the pure lure and still significantly better that the current standard (trimedlure) in nearly all of the trials. If the racemic lure can be manufactured cost-effectively, it could replace trimedlure in detection and control programs against this pest.

Technical Abstract: (-)- ceralure B1 (ethyl-cis-5-iodo-trans-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate), a male attractant for the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), is significantly more attractive than trimedlure (tert-butyl esters of 4(5)-chloro-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate) the current standard male attractant used in detection programs. This paper reports studies that compare the effectiveness of racemic ceralure B1, mixtures of racemic ceralure B1 and pure (-)-ceralure B1 and trimedlure in field tests conducted in Hawaii (USA), Africa and Spain with wild medlfies and in Florida (USA) with sterile released medflies. Trapping results showed that doses of (-)- ceralure B1 of 87.5% and 75% are just as effective as the 98% (-)- ceralure B1 and the racemic form to be nearly as attractive. In nearly all studies the racemic ceralure B1 was significantly better than trimedlure. These studies suggest that the racemic ceralure B1 could be a viable replacement of trimedlure in areawide detection program for this pest. Synthesizing racemic ceralure B1 instead of a specific stereoselective enantiomer of ceralure B1 would likely be more cost effective to produce, and might also be useful in control as well as detection of this pest.