Candidate Substitutes for Methyl Eugenol as Attractants for the Area-wide Monitoring and Control of the Oriental Fruitfly, Dacus dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract
The recent finding that methyl eugenol, a widely used lure for the oriental fruitfly, is a liver carcinogen for the mouse suggested developing substitute lures for monitoring and controlling of this insect that are not susceptible to in vivo metabolism to active carcinogens. Study of the molecular requirements for maximum attraction of the oriental fruitfly and for minimal likelihood of metabolism to active carcinogens suggested several methyl eugenol isosteres that might be useful replacements. Three compounds were selected on the basis of laboratory and preliminary field evaluation as promising replacements: 3,4-dimethoxypropylbenzene, 3,4-dimethoxyethoxybenzene, and 3,4-dimethoxymethoxymethylbenzene.