A comparative assessment of the response of three fruit fly species (Tephritidae) to a protein bait: effect of ammonium acetate, female age and protein hunger

Field studies aimed at comparing the response of female Bactrocera dorsalis, B. cucurbitae and Ceratitis capitata to different formulations of GF-120 NF Naturalyte Fruit Fly Bait that varied in the relative amounts of ammonium acetate were conducted in Hawaii using a comparative approach. The effects of female age and protein hunger were also investigated in female B. dorsalis and B. cucurbitae in field cages. Field results indicate an overall important effect of the amount of ammonium acetate present in the bait for all three species. Field cage results indicate a much stronger response of female B. cucurbitae to this bait than B. dorsalis. The effects of age and protein starvation were stronger in B. dorsalis than in B. cucurbitae.