The Response of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis Capitata (Wied.) (Diptera:Tephritidae) Males to Trimedlure Diluted With Some Fixed Oils

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) has a high economic importance because of its rapid development and wide host range in the world. The chemical production of synthesized sex pheromone, trimedlure (TML) is more expensive so there are new trends to reduce the cost of TML. In this study, some of the fixed oils (sunflower oil, corn oil, and paraffin oil) were used to dilute TML in two concentrations, 75% and 50% and tested in the field by Jackson trap for one month in two areas (Saheil-saliem and Elbadary) in Assuit Governorate. In the first district (Saheil-saliem), no significant differences were found along the exposure of all treatments under normal field conditions except at TML-C 50% which was the lowest response (relative attractiveness of 11.92%). In the second district (Elbadary), TML-PF 75%, TML-SF 75% and TML-SF 50% showed highly significant differences when compared with other treatments but no significant differences among these three treatments were appeared. Infrared analysis (IR) and GC analysis were achieved on TML before and after dilution. According to IR analysis, it was found that there were no new function groups appeared after dilution with any fixed oils. Besides, no changes in retention time of TML after dilution were detectedin GC analysis.

Keywords: Medfly; MFF; trimedlure; TML; fixed oil; effectiveness; Jackson trap

*Corresponding author: E-mail: tamersherihan@gmail.com