title: Methyl eugenol aromatherapy enhances the mating competitiveness of male Bactrocera carambolae Drew & Hancock (Diptera: Tephritidae).
abstract: Males of Bactrocera carambolae Drew & Hancock (Diptera: Tephritidae) are strongly attracted to methyl eugenol (ME) (1,2-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)benzene), a natural compound occurring in variety of plant species. ME-feeding is known to enhance male B. carambolae mating competitiveness 3 days after feeding. Enhanced male mating competitiveness due to ME-feeding can increase the effectiveness of sterile insect technique (SIT) manifolds. However, the common methods for emergence and holding fruit flies prior to field releases do not allow the inclusion of any ME feeding treatment after fly emergence. Therefore this study was planned to assess the effects of ME-aromatherapy in comparison with ME feeding on male B. carambolae mating competitiveness as aromatherapy is pragmatic for fruit flies emergence and holding facilities. Effects of ME application by feeding or by aromatherapy for enhanced mating competitiveness were evaluated 3d after treatments in field cages. ME feeding and ME aromatherapy enhanced male mating competitiveness as compared to untreated males. Males treated with ME either by feeding or by aromatherapy showed similar mating success but mating success was significantly higher than that of untreated males. The results are discussed in the context of application of ME by aromatherapy as a pragmatic approach in a mass-rearing facility and its implications for effectiveness of SIT.
authors.affiliation: Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Seibersdorf, Austria; National Agricultural Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: imihsan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ihsan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Haq
authors.affiliation: Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Seibersdorf, Austria.
authors.forename: Marc J B
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Vreysen
authors.affiliation: Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Seibersdorf, Austria.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cacéres
authors.affiliation: USDA/APHIS, 41-650 Ahiki Street, Waimanalo, HI 96795, USA.
authors.forename: Todd E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Shelly
authors.affiliation: Insect Pest Control Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hendrichs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005054:Eugenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D012098:Reproduction; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D033621:Tephritidae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C005223:methyleugenol; D005054:Eugenol
keywords: Carambola fruit fly; Mating success; Methyl eugenol treatment; Sterile insect technique