Tuesday, December 11, 2007
D0322

Chemicals attractive to the Mexican fruit fly identified from grape, a non-host fruit

Michelle J. Zamarron, mjzamarron@broncs.utpa.edu, USDA-ARS, 2413 E. Hwy 83, Weslaco, TX and David Robacker, drobacker@weslaco.ars.usda.gov, USDA ARS, 2413 E. Highway 83, Weslaco, TX.

Volatiles from Fruitibases grape juice were identified, tested for attractiveness, and mixed into an attractive blend. Volatiles were sampled using solid phase microextraction. Chemicals were analyzed by gas chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry. Identified chemicals were ethanol, ethyl propionate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, ethyl decanoate, ethyl dodecanoate, D-limonene, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, methyl anthranilate, and dimethyl anthranilate. Chemicals were tested for attractiveness to Mexican fruit flies (Anastrepha ludens) in laboratory bioassays. All test chemicals except sorbic acid were attractive to either sugar-fed or sugar-starved flies. A nine-component synthetic grape essence mixture was developed that matched the headspace volatiles profile of Fruitibases grape juice. Attractiveness of the mixture was equal to Frutibases grape juice in laboratory bioassays. The mixture was 70% as attractive as the juice in traps in field tests. Results demonstrate that most of the attractive principals of Frutibases grape juice were identified.


Species 1: Diptera Tephritidae Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit fly)