Age-related response of Bactrocera cucurbitae to Cue-lure
Experiments were carried out in Hawaii, US, in order to investigate the influence of fruit fly age on the response of Bactrocera cucurbitae (EPPO A1 quarantine organism) to the pheromone trapping substance Cue-lure. It was found that the response to Cue-lure of wild strains and laboratory strains of the fruit fly was strongly influenced by the age of the male flies. The response of males increased with age and corresponded to insects reaching sexual maturity for each strain. Females were relatively non-responsive. The authors concluded that the failure to eradicate B. curcubitae in previous male annihilation programmes may be explained in part by the fact that only older males, which may have already mated, respond to Cue-lure.
Sources
Wong, T.T.Y.; McInnis, D.O.; Ramadan, M.M.; Nishimoto, J.I. (1991) Age-related response of male melon flies Dacus cucurbitae to Cue-lure.
Journal of Chemical Ecology 17, 2481-2487.