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

Abstract

AbstractAn 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.