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AN IMPROVED BIOASSAY TECHNIQUE FOR THE SEX PHEROMONE OF MALE DACUS TRYONI (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Areti Giannakakis
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia 2006
Brian S. Fletcher
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia 2006

Abstract

An improved bioassay using closed glass units was developed for the sex pheromone of the male Queensland fruit fly, Dacus tryoni (Froggatt). Female responsiveness in glass units was quantitated and compared with that in cages, using probing with the ovipositor as the "key response". The median effective dose of pheromone required to elicit a response in 50% of the females (BR50) was much lower in glass units (< 1 male equivalent) than in cages (2.7 male equivalents), and the females also responded more rapidly. As the bioassay is adaptable to a wide variety of laboratory modifications it may be suitable for studying the sex pheromone of other Tephritidae.

Résumé

Une nouvelle technique a été perfectionnée pour étudier la phéromone sexuelle du mâle de Dacus tryoni (Froggatt). Le comportement comparatif des femelles sous verre et en cage a été établi quantitativement en étudiant le mouvement de l’ovipositeur. C’est une action de substitution typique effectuée par la femelle sous l’influence de la phéromone sexuelle du mâle. La dose efficace moyenne, de phéromone sexuelle requise pour obtenir une response de 50% des femelles sous verre a été beaucoup moins grande, que celle des femelles en cage, les femelles sous verre ayant réagi plus rapidement. La technique ayant une grande variété possible de modifications expérimentales, pourrait sans doute être employée pour la recherche ou la phéromone sexuelle d’autres mouches Tephritidae.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1978

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