Attractant for Vinegar Fly, Drosophila busckii, and Cluster Fly, Pollenia rudis (Diptera: Drosophilidae et Calliphoridae)

Abstract

A fi eld test carried out in an industrial greenhouse in Lithuania revealed the attractiveness of synthetic methyl salicylate (MeSa) to two dipteran species: the vinegar fl y, Drosophila busckii (Drosophilidae), and the cluster fl y, Pollenia rudis (Calliphoridae). The attractant for the former fl y species was especially effective, as sticky traps containing 0.25 ml of MeSa captured (814 ± 55) D. busckii fl ies/trap on average compared to (12 ± 4) fl ies/trap in control traps. The mean capture of P. rudis [(42 ± 4) fl ies/trap] was signifi cantly higher in MeSa-baited traps compared to the control traps [(13 ± 4) fl ies/trap]. The presence of MeSa in emissions of many fruits suitable for D. busckii feeding allows to attribute this attractant to kairomones. In case of P. rudis, MeSa should be attributed to synomones (compounds benefi cial for both receiver and sender), because adult fl ies feeding on fl owers act as pollinators. This is the fi rst report on the fi eld-active attractant for D. busckii and the second for P. rudis.

The history and current state of cluster flies (Diptera: Polleniidae:Pollenia) in North America, with new Canadian provincial records

“…Adults of this genus are reported to be significant pollinators (Būda et al 2009;Jewiss-Gaines et al 2012), hence, the name Pollenia. There are reports of pollen-covered Pollenia (Robineau-Desvoidy 1863), and adults are commonly found during general surveys of insects on a number of plants in North America, including wind-pollinated plants such as wheat (Poaceae) (Webster 1900) and insect-pollinated plants such as carrot (Apiaceae) (Bohart and Nye 1960), ox-eye daisy (Asteraceae) (Judd 1964), flowering boneset (Asteraceae) (Allan 1967), and strawberry blossoms (Rosaceae) (Nye and Anderson 1974).…”

“…Other successful baits for capturing Pollenia include bananas (Webb and Hutchison 1916;Yahnke and George 1972), especially when combined with milk and vanilla extract (Hall 1948), and apples (DeCoursey 1927), consistent with the need to feed from flowering plants, rotten fruits, and souring tree sap (Hall 1948). Only two plant compounds are known to attract Pollenia; these are methyl eugenol and methyl salicylate (Būda et al 2009;El-Sayed 2021). Methyl eugenol is released when damage occurs to the leaves, stems, roots, fruits, or flowers of more than 450 plant species and can deter animals from feeding on plant tissues (Tan and Nishida 2012).…”

“…Methyl salicylate is also released as a response to plant damage and is attractive to many predator insects that prey upon insect herbivores (Stepanycheva et al 2016). Methyl salicylate is emitted by many flowers and could signal a nectar source for Pollenia, which would allow the plant to be pollinated (Būda et al 2009). None of these compounds are known to attract members of Calliphoridae (El-Sayed 2021).…”

Preference for and resistance to a toxic sulfur volatile opens up a unique niche inDrosophila busckii

“…The species is considered part of the cosmopolitan guild of Drosophila , along with five other Drosophila species, and is known to be associated with humans in present times, behaving as a commensal 22,23 . The species can be found on various substrates, including rotting vegetables like potatoes, chicory and mushrooms 21,24–26 . Interestingly, many of the reported breeding hosts for Dbus , such as rotting cauliflowers or brussels sprouts, belong to the cruciferous vegetable family, known for containing high levels of defense compounds perceived as toxic by many insects 27 .…”