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Effects of adhesive powders on the mating and flight behavior of Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Effects of adhesive powders on the mating and flight behavior of Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Effects of adhesive powders on the mating and flight behavior of Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Powders that adhere to insect cuticle can be used as carrier particles for synthetic insecticides, entomopathogens, or pheromones in insect control systems, and insects can be lured into contact with such powder mixtures by using attractants. Secondary transfer of adhesive powders to conspecifics during social interactions has been reported; however, this transfer relies on insects leaving the source of powder and continuing normal behavior when contaminated. We examined the ability of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae), to fly and mate after being contaminated with one of two adhesive powders: an electrostatic wax powder, Entostat, and a proprietary metallic powder, Entomag. During continuous observations for 1 h in a flight tunnel, male C. capitata made significantly more flights than females. Treating C. capitata with either powder significantly suppressed the flight activity of male C. capitata compared with untreated controls, whereas powder treatment had a negligible effect on female flight activity. Within 1 h, male C. capitata treated with Entomag recovered normal flight activity, but Entostat-treated males were not fully recovered. Virgin male C. capitata treated with either Entostat or Entomag were able to mate with virgin female C. capitata, but the onset of mating was delayed compared with control C. capitata by ?1 h. Even though the effect of powder uptake on behavior seemed to be temporary, scanning electron micrograph images of treated C. capitata showed that both powders were retained for >24 h on most body parts. The adhesive powders showed potential for use as carrier particles for pesticides, entomopathogens, or pheromones in novel C. capitata control systems.
1194-1202
Armsworth, Clare G.
b6f87f6b-c88c-451e-b73c-dc011cb1f783
Baxter, Ian H.
1d028199-1710-48a2-8851-6e8f713cd76e
Barton, Lucy E.E.
8c414e3f-b9da-4fdc-a963-97486465876f
Poppy, Guy M.
e18524cf-10ae-4ab4-b50c-e73e7d841389
Nansen, Christian
4a776b14-dadd-4ada-8aef-6090770ca2cd
Armsworth, Clare G.
b6f87f6b-c88c-451e-b73c-dc011cb1f783
Baxter, Ian H.
1d028199-1710-48a2-8851-6e8f713cd76e
Barton, Lucy E.E.
8c414e3f-b9da-4fdc-a963-97486465876f
Poppy, Guy M.
e18524cf-10ae-4ab4-b50c-e73e7d841389
Nansen, Christian
4a776b14-dadd-4ada-8aef-6090770ca2cd

Armsworth, Clare G., Baxter, Ian H., Barton, Lucy E.E., Poppy, Guy M. and Nansen, Christian (2006) Effects of adhesive powders on the mating and flight behavior of Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 99 (4), 1194-1202.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Powders that adhere to insect cuticle can be used as carrier particles for synthetic insecticides, entomopathogens, or pheromones in insect control systems, and insects can be lured into contact with such powder mixtures by using attractants. Secondary transfer of adhesive powders to conspecifics during social interactions has been reported; however, this transfer relies on insects leaving the source of powder and continuing normal behavior when contaminated. We examined the ability of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae), to fly and mate after being contaminated with one of two adhesive powders: an electrostatic wax powder, Entostat, and a proprietary metallic powder, Entomag. During continuous observations for 1 h in a flight tunnel, male C. capitata made significantly more flights than females. Treating C. capitata with either powder significantly suppressed the flight activity of male C. capitata compared with untreated controls, whereas powder treatment had a negligible effect on female flight activity. Within 1 h, male C. capitata treated with Entomag recovered normal flight activity, but Entostat-treated males were not fully recovered. Virgin male C. capitata treated with either Entostat or Entomag were able to mate with virgin female C. capitata, but the onset of mating was delayed compared with control C. capitata by ?1 h. Even though the effect of powder uptake on behavior seemed to be temporary, scanning electron micrograph images of treated C. capitata showed that both powders were retained for >24 h on most body parts. The adhesive powders showed potential for use as carrier particles for pesticides, entomopathogens, or pheromones in novel C. capitata control systems.

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Published date: 4 August 2006

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 56220
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/56220
PURE UUID: 529ae1de-8b69-46ac-88cd-499f2667faa2

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 08 Aug 2008
Last modified: 08 Jan 2022 07:07

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Contributors

Author: Clare G. Armsworth
Author: Ian H. Baxter
Author: Lucy E.E. Barton
Author: Guy M. Poppy
Author: Christian Nansen

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