Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) female preference for lemon and grapefruit peel volatiles

In phytophagous insects the ability to locate and lay eggs in hosts that maximize survival and development of their offspring is determined, in part, by physical and chemical cues from the plant. Previous studies on the interaction between the South American fruit fly, A. fraterculus, and various Citrus species, showed that females are able to discriminate non-hosts like lemon [C. limon (L.) Burm.] from suitable hosts such as grapefruit [C. paradisi Macfadyen]. This ability is reflected in a difference in the number of eggs laid in each species in choice tests. The objective of this study was to evaluate if mated A. fraterculus females use peel essential oils to discriminate between lemon and grapefruit, using dual choice test in a glass tube (50 cm length). At each end of the tube a filter paper with 5 µl of each essential oil was placed and a female was released in the center of the tube. The location of the female was observed for 10 min after release. Areas of “choice” and “no choice” were defined inside the tube and the time spent in each area was recorded. The time spent in each stimuli showed no statistically significant differences (z = 0.23, p = 0.8182) between lemon and grapefruit. Based on these results we have yet not evidence to conclude that A. fraterculus females use cues from peel volatiles to discriminate lemon from grapefruit in their oviposition preference. Fil: Ruiz, María Josefina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia. Cátedra Terapéutica Vegetal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina Fil: Juárez, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina