ABSTRACT
Olfactory semiochemicals are volatile chemicals that modify the behavior of tephritids and can be classified as attractants, repellents, stimulants, deterrents and arrestants. Plant kairomones and allomones that influence tephritid behaviors can be both host-plant and non-host-plant in origin. The most dramatic, efficacious, and useful attractant developed from a host plant is that for the apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella. Though host-fruit extracts are routinely used to induce higher rates of oviposition in mass-rearing applications, chemically-defined ovipositional stimulants have been poorly researched, few have been identified, and none are in applied use. Trap type has a profound influence on attraction of fruit flies to food-based semiochemicals. Semiochemicals are an important part of our knowledge base for understanding the fundamental ecology of tephritids and for development of semiochemical-based control strategies for economically important tephritid fruit flies. Complexity is real in nature and should be one of the primary considerations in looking for improved attractants.
