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

• Published in: Entomologia experimentalis et applicata Vol. 169; no. 2; pp. 172 - 182
• Main Authors: Ruiz, María J., Juárez, María L., Jofré Barud, Flavia, Goane, Lucía, Valladares, Gabriela A., Bachmann, Guillermo E., Belliard, Silvina A., Páez Jerez, Paula, Zamora Belli, Ana Lucía, García Méndez, F. Daniela, Segura, Diego F., López, M. Liza, Vera, María T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-02-2021
• Subjects: Anastrepha fraterculus; Animal reproduction; Citral; Control methods; Diptera; Essential oils; essential‐oil volatiles exposure; Exposure; Fruit flies; Fruits; Ginger; Insects; Laboratories; Laboratory tests; Limonene; male enhancers; Male sterility; Males; Mating; Monoterpenes; Oils & fats; Pest control; Pests; phytochemical; Schinus polygama; Sexual behavior; sexual behaviour; SIT; South American fruit fly; sterile insect technique; Sterility; Sterilized organisms; Success; Tephritidae; Volatiles
• ISSN: 0013-8703; 1570-7458
• DOI: 10.1111/eea.13005

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 SIT.
Sterile insect technique (SIT) efficacy can be increased if mass‐reared sterile males’ sexual success is enhanced. We evaluated the possibility of using phytochemicals to enhance male sexual success of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) under laboratory conditions. Essential oils of Citrus limon (Rutaceae) and Schinus polygama (Anacardiaceae) and limonene enhanced male mating success. We discuss the role of exposure to essential‐oil volatiles on A. fraterculus male sexual behaviour and its implications for SIT.