Attraction of female Bactrocera dorsalis to nine host plant volatiles
[Aim]To evaluate the attraction of female Bactrocera dorsalis to nine host plant volatiles,and develop an environmentally sustainable control technique for B.dorsalis.[Methods]Volatiles comprising esters(ethyl butyrate,methyl caprylate,ethyl caprylate),aromatics(β-caryophyllen,α-caryophyllene,3-carene),and terpenes(phenylacetaldehyde,phenethyl alcohol,ethyl benzoate)from nine host plants were applied to cotton septa at concentrations of 0.01,0.05,and 0.25 mg,respectively.The septa were then affixed to white sticky traps and hung in a mango tree.The response of female B.dorsalis to each volatile was tested in the field in the mango orchards of Yuanjiang county.The volatiles with the maximum effect in each category were then combined in accordance with the orthogonal experiment L9(33).This was done to test the attractiveness of the tri-compound combination to the females at various ratios,and control for the influence of fallen fruits.[Results]Female Bactrocera dorsalis showed a significant attraction towards Ethyl butyrate[0.05 mg,(6.0±2.1)ind./trap/day],3-carene[0.05 mg,(3.5±2.1)ind./trap/day],and ethyl benzoate[0.05 mg,(4.7±2.1)ind./trap/day].The triple-compound mixture[ethyl butyrate+ethyl benzoate+3-carene=5∶0.2∶5(VNN)]had the highest catch rate of females[0.05 mg,(5.3±1.7)ind./trap/day].Additionally,the removal of dropped fruits significantly increased the effectiveness of the mixture.[Conclusion]This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a triple-compound plant volatile mixture,consisting of ethyl butyrate,ethyl benzoate,and 3-carene,in attracting female B.dorsalis.This volatile mixture has potential to be incorporated into management strategies for the effective control of B.dorsalis in mango orchards.