Effect of fruit volatiles and light intensity on the reproduction of Bactrocera (Dacus) oleae

Abstract

The olive fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), is the main pest of olive, a host tree that thrives under conditions of high and direct sun exposure. Although the effect of the olive fruit on the reproduction of the fly has been studied to some extent, there is little knowledge on the effect of light. In the present work, we studied the effect of the presence of olive fruit and light intensity on mating and subsequent egg production of olive flies at 25°C and a photoperiod regime of L : D 16 : 8. The results showed that contact of the adults with the fruit, or exposure to fruit odours, favoured both the extent and the duration of mating. This effect was higher at low than at high light intensity. However, egg production following female access to olive fruit was more favoured by high light intensity. Our results also showed that fruit contact and/or volatile fruit stimuli significantly affect mating and egg production of the olive fly, and that this influence is modulated by light conditions. The results contribute to a better understanding of the reproductive behaviour and population dynamics of the olive fly. On a more practical scale, the results provide important insights into how to improve mass rearing of the fly.

Recent Advancements in Studies on Chemosensory Mechanisms Underlying Detection of Semiochemicals in Dacini Fruit Flies of Economic Importance (Diptera: Tephritidae)

“…At dusk, concomitant with decreased light intensity below 100 lx, mating entailed male intrinsic behavioral patterns, such as short bursts of wing fanning (also termed pheromone-calling) to release male pheromone compounds from the rectal gland through the anus [76]. Furthermore, light intensity has been shown to modulate female mating and oviposition affected by contact and/or volatile fruit stimuli in B. oleae [77]. Following mating, female tephritid flies have been shown to behaviorally switch their preference for host fruit odors rather than pheromones of conspecific males [78].…”

“…Furthermore, light intensity has been shown to modulate female mating and oviposition affected by contact and/or volatile fruit stimuli in B . oleae [ 77 ]. Following mating, female tephritid flies have been shown to behaviorally switch their preference for host fruit odors rather than pheromones of conspecific males [ 78 ].…”

Model Concepts for Gene Drive Dynamics

“…From an egg, a monodietary larva hatches which eats its way through the fruit pulp to the center of the olive (Daane and Johnson 2010;Sharaf 1980). Olive flies may have three to five overlapping generations per year (Bocaccio and Petacchi 2009;Comins and Fletcher 1988;Kokkari et al 2017;Pontikakos et al 2010;Voulgaris et al 2013) and thereby cause annual net losses estimated to be as high 5% of global olive production translating into 800 million US-Dollar per year (Montiel Bueno and Jones 2002). Due to their role as an agricultural pest species, the olive fly is considered a target species for diverse pest control methods.…”

Olive fruit volatiles route intraspecific interactions and chemotaxis in Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae) females

“…For B. oleae, host-plant quality is known to vary both among the Olea species as well as among O. europaea cultivars 17 , although also abiotic factors (i.e. light intensity) and microorganisms could alter the egg laying and production by female flies 18,19 . Aside from female oviposition preferences, fruit characteristics may influence the larval development 4 .…”