Lemon and Schinus polygama essential oils enhance male mating success of Anastrepha fraterculus

Abstract

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is an environmentally friendly pest control method that relies on the introduction of sterility into the pest population by the release of sterile males. Many Tephritidae fruit fly pests are currently being controlled with SIT. Sterile insect technique efficacy can be increased if the sexual success of mass‐reared sterile males is enhanced. Phytochemicals influence the sexual behaviour of many species of phytophagous insects. Here, we evaluated the possibility of using essential oils to enhance male sexual success of the highly polyphagous fruit fly pest Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), also known as the South American fruit fly. In laboratory tests, we determined the effect of exposing males to volatiles from seven essential oils [Baccharis spartioides (Hook. & Arn) Cabrera (Asteraceae), Schinus polygama (Cav.) Cabrera, Schinus areira (L.) (Anacardiaceae), Zingiber officinale (Roscoe) (Zingiberaceae), Citrus limon (L.) Burm. F., Citrus paradisi Macfad., and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Rutaceae)] and two monoterpenes (limonene and citral) that are present at high proportions in some of the oils we evaluated. One exposed and one non‐exposed (control) male were placed in a mating arena with one virgin female. We recorded the type of male chosen as mating partner, copula start time, and copula duration. Laboratory males exposed to the volatiles of C. limon and S. polygama essential oils achieved more matings than non‐exposed males. The rest of the oils had no effect on male mating success. In addition, limonene‐exposed males obtained significantly more matings than non‐exposed males, and citral induced a detrimental effect. Exposure to the volatiles of the various essential oils and monoterpenes did not impact on copula start time and copula duration. We discuss the role of essential‐oil volatiles on A. fraterculus males’ sexual behaviour and its implications for SIT.

Toxics or Lures? Biological and Behavioral Effects of Plant Essential Oils on Tephritidae Fruit Flies

“…The use of GRO as pre-release treatment is then recommended in SIT programs [ 36 ]. Other EOs as C. limon , S. polygama, and the monoterpene limonene have also been suggested as a pre-release treatment for A. fraterculus sterile males since laboratory bioassays highlighted that the mating success of males of A. fraterculus is increased after the exposure to these compounds [ 217 ].…”

Identification of host plant volatile stimulants of Anastrepha fraterculus male courtship behavior

“…However, only a few studies have evaluated male sexual responses to VOCs exposure in Anastrepha (Segura et al, 2018). Volatiles from ginger root oil (GRO), which majorly contain α-copaene, were tested on several Anastrepha species, namely Anastrepha fraterculus, Anastrepha ludens, Anastrepha obliqua, and Anastrepha serpentina (Flores et al, 2011;Ruiz et al, 2021). However, except for A. serpentina, male mating success was not enhanced by the exposure to GRO volatiles in these species.…”

“…Recently, Ruiz et al (2021) assessed the effect of odors from seven essential oils, from exotic hosts and non-host plants, as well as two standard compounds [(R)-limonene 98% and citral (mixture of neral and geranial) 95%] on A. fraterculus male mating success. They found an increased male mating success when males were exposed to lemon (Citrus limon) essential oil or moradillo (Schinus polygama) essential oil.…”

“…In addition, when males were exposed to R-limonene, the major compound of lemon essential oil (LO), they achieved a higher number of mates. However, when males were exposed to grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) essential oil (GFO) and orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil (OO), which also contain R-limonene as the major compound, their sexual success was not affected (Ruiz et al, 2021). The limonene relative abundance varies between citrus species (González-Mas et al, 2019), and detrimental effects have been shown for tephritid flies exposed to sources with high concentrations of this compound (Salvatore et al, 2004;Papachristos et al, 2009;Oviedo et al, 2020;Zeni et al, 2021).…”

Assessment of Sex-Specific Toxicity and Physiological Responses to Thymol in a Common Bean Pest Acanthoscelides obtectus Say

“…Since pure thymol seems to affect F1 progeny number mainly through the adverse effect on male survival (similarity of EC 50 value for adult emergence inhibition to LC 50 for males on thymol) it is possible that other compounds in thyme EO additionally reduced emergence through adverse effects on mating, fecundity, larval penetration into seeds and/or preadult survival. Even sublethal concentrations of monoterpenes could have a significant impact on fitness traits and behavior of the bean weevil ( Regnault-Roger and Hamraoui, 1995 ; Jevremović et al, 2019 ; Hategekimana and Erler, 2020 ) and other pests ( Hummelbrunner and Isman, 2001 ; Wang et al, 2009 ; Tak and Isman, 2017 ; de Melo et al, 2018 ; Abdelgaleil et al, 2021a ; Barbosa et al, 2021 ; de Andrade Brito et al, 2021 ; Ruiz et al, 2021 ). Because thymol also affects bean weevil fitness traits ( Regnault-Roger and Hamraoui, 1995 ) and deters oviposition ( Jevremović et al, 2019 ) we suppose that various synergistic and antagonistic interactions of thymol with other monoterpenes might take part in determining the number of emerged adults.…”