Plant chemicals and the sexual behavior of male tephritid fruit flies

Plant compounds affect insects in many different ways. In addition to being a food source, plants also contain secondary metabolites that may have positive and negative impacts on insects. The influence of these compounds on sexual behavior, in particular, has been the focus of many recent studies. Here, we review the existing literature on the effects of plant compounds on the sexual behavior of tephritid fruit fly males. We put special focus on polyphagous species whose males congregate in leks, where females exert strong mate selection. We first summarize the main findings related to plant compounds that increase male signaling behavior and attraction of females and consequently increase mating frequency, a phenomenon that has been recorded mainly for species of Anastrepha and Ceratitis. In other tephritid species, males are attracted to phenylpropanoids produced by plants (such as methyl eugenol or raspberry ketone) that, upon encounter, are consumed and sequestered by males. These compounds, or metabolic derivatives, which normally have negligible nutritional value, are included in the pheromone and also confer advantages in a sexual context: enhanced female attraction and improved male mating success. These phenomena have been reported for several Bactrocera species as well as for Zeugodacus cucurbitae. Because many tephritid species are serious pests, the effect of plant compounds on male behavior has been explored for potential incorporation into control strategies such as the sterile insect technique (SIT). We conclude noting several factors, such as age and nutrition during larval and adult stage, that modulate the effect of plant compounds on male mating behavior as well as some prominent gaps that preclude a thorough understanding of the plant-mediated enhancement of male sexual performance and hence limit our ability to effectively utilize phytochemicals in pest control strategies.Instituto de GenéticaFil: Segura, Diego Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética. Laboratorio de Genética de Insectos de Importancia Económica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Belliard, Silvina A. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética. Laboratorio de Genética de Insectos de Importancia Económica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vera, María Teresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Bachmann, Guillermo Enrique. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética. Laboratorio de Genética de Insectos de Importancia Económica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz, María Josefina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Jofre-Barud, Flavia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Patricia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Delta del Paraná; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, M. Liza. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Shelly, Todd E. United States Department of Agriculture. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; Estados Unido

Lemon and Schinus polygama essential oils enhance male mating success of Anastrepha fraterculus

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is an environmentally friendly pest control method that relies on the introduction of sterility into the pest population by the release of sterile males. Many Tephritidae fruit fly pests are currently being controlled with SIT. Sterile insect technique efficacy can be increased if the sexual success of mass-reared sterile males is enhanced. Phytochemicals influence the sexual behaviour of many species of phytophagous insects. Here, we evaluated the possibility of using essential oils to enhance male sexual success of the highly polyphagous fruit fly pest Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), also known as the South American fruit fly. In laboratory tests, we determined the effect of exposing males to volatiles from seven essential oils [Baccharis spartioides (Hook. & Arn) Cabrera (Asteraceae), Schinus polygama (Cav.) Cabrera, Schinus areira (L.) (Anacardiaceae), Zingiber officinale (Roscoe) (Zingiberaceae), Citrus limon (L.) Burm. F., Citrus paradisi Macfad., and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Rutaceae)] and two monoterpenes (limonene and citral) that are present at high proportions in some of the oils we evaluated. One exposed and one non-exposed (control) male were placed in a mating arena with one virgin female. We recorded the type of male chosen as mating partner, copula start time, and copula duration. Laboratory males exposed to the volatiles of C. limon and S. polygama essential oils achieved more matings than non-exposed males. The rest of the oils had no effect on male mating success. In addition, limonene-exposed males obtained significantly more matings than non-exposed males, and citral induced a detrimental effect. Exposure to the volatiles of the various essential oils and monoterpenes did not impact on copula start time and copula duration. We discuss the role of essential-oil volatiles on A. fraterculus males’ sexual behaviour and its implications for SITEEA San JuanFil: Ruiz, María Josefina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina.Fil: Jofré Barud, Flavia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Goane, Lucía. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina.Fil: Goane, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Valladares, Gabriela A. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina.Fil: Valladares, Gabriela A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Bachmann, Guillermo E. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Bachmann, Guillermo E. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética; Argentina.Fil: Belliard, Silvina A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Belliard, Silvina A. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética; Argentina.Fil: Páez Jerez, Paula. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina.Fil: Páez Jerez, Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Zamora Belli, Ana Lucía. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina.Fil: García Méndez, F. Daniela. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina.Fil: Segura, Diego F. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Segura, Diego F. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética; Argentina.Fil: López, María Liza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: López, María Liza. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Juan; Argentina.Fil: Vera, María T. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina.Fil: Vera, María T. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina