Treating Tephritids with Attractants to Enhance Their Effectiveness in Sterile-Release Programs13

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Abstract
When the tephritids the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis Capitata (Wiedemann); the oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis Hendel; and the melon fly, D. cucurbitae Coquillett, were treated topically with the male attractants trimedlure, methyl eugenol, and cue-lure, respectively, and tested in outdoor cages, untreated flies of D. dorsalis and D. cucurbitae were attracted to the treated flies. Also, male melon flies exposed to the odor of cue-lure for 4–5 days after emergence were subsequently 3–10 times less responsive to traps baited with cue-lure, an indication that they became habituated to the attractant. Thus, control or eradication by the techniques of male annihilation and sterile releases may be improved by using sterilized insects that do not respond to applications of attractant mixed with insecticide.

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