ABSTRACT
Olfactory-based attractants are important tools for detection, control and eradication of Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata populations. Leading the list in their usefulness are the protein-based food baits, and the empirically derived male attractants such as Trimedlure. Laboratory-reared Mediterranean fruit fly pupae were obtained from the USDA-ARS, Tropical Fruit & Vegetable Research Laboratory in Honolulu, Hawaii. The five major identified components tested were ethyl acetate, geranyl acetate, ethyl (E)-3-octenoate, (E,E)-oc-farnesene, and 1-pyrroline. Individual major components captured significantly fewer flies than the authentic male odor when tested competitively. Female capture to the authentic male odor was reduced when paired against both the five-component ensemble and (E,E)-a-farnesene. Augmentation of male odor with either intermediate or minor blends was able to increase attractancy of females over the male odor alone in the olfactometer tests suggesting that one or more components in these blends are part of the true pheromone.
