Effects of pH on feeding responses in the apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae).
Phagostimulatory effects of pH values of sucrose on Rhagoletis pomonella adults were studied in the laboratory. Flies were standardized for age, diet and food deprivation. Two presentation schemes were employed. The first varied pH value (3.0-10.0) with sucrose concentration kept constant at 40%. The second varied both sucrose concentration (8%, 24% and 40%) and pH value (5.0-8.0). Fly feeding propensity was evaluated by observation of fly acceptance or rejection of sucrose and duration of feeding. When tested on red wooden spheres treated with 40% sucrose, fly feeding acceptance was significantly greater when pH ranged from 5.0 to 8.0, and duration of feeding was significantly longer at pH 6.0-7.0. At pH </=4.0 or pH >/=8.0, feeding propensity was significantly reduced. Decrease in sucrose concentration significantly increased fly sensitivity to pH. Males were more responsive to varying pH than females. The sucrose pH shown to stimulate maximal feeding response was 6.4. Such information is relevant to formulation improvement of a coating mixture of sucrose and insecticide applied to red spheres as part of apple maggot fly control programs.
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Department of Entomology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
Prokopy
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Averill
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