9 research outputs found
A polyphagous, tropical insect herbivore shows strong seasonality in age-structure and longevity independent of temperature and host availability
Towards improving sterile insect technique: Exposure to orange oil compounds increases sexual signalling and longevity in Ceratitis capitata males of the Vienna 8 GSS
Bioassay Method for Toxicity Studies of Toxic Bait Formulations to Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Identification of active components from volatiles of Chinese bayberry, Myrica rubra attractive to Drosophila suzukii
Aromatized to Find Mates: alpha-Pinene Aroma Boosts the Mating Success of Adult Olive Fruit Flies
Background: Contrary to other Tephritidae, female but also male olive flies, Bactrocera oleae release pheromones during their sexual communication. Alpha-pinene, a common plant volatile found in high amounts in unripe olive fruit and leaves has been detected as one of the major components of the female pheromone. However, possible effects of alpha-pinene and that of other host volatiles on the mating behavior of the olive fly have not been investigated. Methodology: Using wild olive flies, reared on olive fruit for 3 generations in the laboratory, we explored whether exposure of male and female olive flies to alpha-pinene affects their sexual performance. Results: Exposure of sexually mature adult olive flies to the aroma of alpha-pinene significantly increases the mating performance over non-exposed individuals. Interestingly, exposure to alpha-pinene boosts the mating success of both males and female olive flies. Conclusions: This is the first report of such an effect on the olive fly, and the first time that a single plant volatile has been reported to induce such a phenomenon on both sexes of a single species. We discuss the possible associated mechanism and provide some practical implications