Attraction of Mexican fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) to bacteria: effects of culturing medium on odour volatiles

Abstract

Effects of culturing medium on production and emission of volatiles by Pantoea agglomerans (Beijerinck 1888) Gavini et al. 1989 preparations and on attractiveness of the preparations to the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens Loew, were investigated. Bacterial cultures in each of four biochemically different types of liquid media emitted different volatiles. Cultures in a medium containing uric acid as its primary nitrogen source emitted more ammonia and 2‐nonanone than the other media. We postulate that the high production of ammonia was because of uricase activity by this uricase (+) strain. Regardless of media type, supernatants emitted more volatiles than preparations containing cells that had been removed from whole cultures and put into distilled water. Attractiveness varied little with biochemical make‐up of the culturing medium although the uric acid and carbohydrate preparations were as a group more attractive than preparations made from the other two media. Supernatants and whole cultures generally were more attractive than cell preparations and non‐inoculated media. Bacteria grown in aqueous uric acid‐based media emitted volatiles similar but not identical to those emitted by bacteria grown on gel (agar or solid) uric acid‐based media in Petri plates.

Bacterial communities associated with invasive populations of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in China

“…The functions of fruit flies’ symbionts and free-living associated bacteria have been reported via four aspects, including participating in the carbon and nitrogen cycle of fruit flies to help them synthesize essential amino acids and minerals; attracting the fly to feed on host plant; degrading the toxic compounds from host plants and preventing the colonization of pathogenic bacteria (Robacker & Lauzon, 2002; Lauzon et al ., 2003; Behar et al ., 2005, 2008 a , b , c ; Robacker et al ., 2009). Many bacteria retrieved in this study have been reported showing beneficial function to host flies such as, Lactococcus that has been reported to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria in Anastrepha ludens (Kuzina et al , 2001).…”

Social attraction mediated by fruit flies' microbiome

“…Indeed, bacteria-feeding insects such as tephritid flies (Tephritidae) are attracted to odours emanating from their bacterial prey (Robacker et al, 2004;Robacker et al, 2009). It is well established, however, that fruit flies are strongly attracted to and feed on yeast (Spencer, 1950;Begon, 1982).…”

Review of the role of gut microbiota in mass rearing of the olive fruit fly,Bactrocera oleae, and its parasitoids

“…These non-digestive bacteria are also interesting for biological control because they potentially make flies more attractive and thus better candidates for SIT. They also provide opportunities for attractants in bait sprays or traps, as proven in B. oleae (Scarpati et al, 1996) and related fruit flies (Gow, 1954;Drew, 1987;Robacker et al, 2009).…”