Attraction of Rhagoletis indifferens (Diptera: Tephritidae) to white light in the presence and absence of ammonia
Keywords:
western cherry fruit fly, positive phototaxis, halogen bulb, light intensity, ammonium carbonateAbstract
Attraction of tephritid fruit flies to light and its role in fly biology and management have received little attention. Here, the objective was to show that western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), is attracted to white light in the presence and absence of ammonia, an olfactory cue used with traps. Laboratory tests were conducted inside a 0.23 m3 cage with a halogen or light-emitting diode (LED) bulb hung ~2 cm above a trap with or without an ammonium carbonate lure; flies were released in the cage opposite from the light. Fly captures on yellow or clear traps with white light from both bulb types were greater than on controls, and greater at higher than lower light intensities whether ammonia waspresent or not. Adding heat without additional light near traps did not increase captures, indicating light rather than heat from bulbs attracted flies. In the field, light from LED and halogen bulbs did not enhance fly captures on ammonia-baited yellow traps, but light from halogen bulbs did enhancecaptures when there was no ammonia, although captures were lower than when ammonia was added. Results show that bright white light is attractive to R. indifferens and suggest orientation towards it may induce behaviors that positively affect fly fitness, such as mating and foraging. However, stronger light-associated stimuli than those used here may be needed to enhance fly captures on ammonia-baited traps under field conditions.
Resumen
La atracción de las moscas de la fruta tefrítidas a la luz y su papel en la biología y el manejo de las mismas ha recibido poca atención. Aquí, el objetivo fue mostrar que la mosca de la fruta del cerezo occidental, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), es atraída por la luz blanca en presencia y ausencia de amonio, una señal olfativa usada con las trampas. Se realizaron pruebas de laboratorio dentro de una jaula de 0,23 m3 con una bombilla halógena o de diodo emisor de luz (LED) colgada ~2 cm por encima de una trampa con o sin señuelo de carbonato de amonio; las moscas fueron liberadas en la jaula opuesta a la luz. Las capturas de moscas en trampas amarillas o claras con luz blanca de ambos tipos de bulbo fueron mayores que en los controles, y mayores en intensidades de luz más altas que bajas, si el amonio fuera presente o no. La adición de calor sin luz adicional cerca de las trampas no incrementó las capturas, lo que indica que la luz y no el calor de los bulbos atrajo las moscas. En el campo, la luz de las bombillas LED y halógenas no mejoró las capturas de moscas en las trampas amarillas con amoníaco, pero la luz de las bombillas halógenas mejoró las capturas cuando no había amonio, aunque las capturas fueron menores que cuando se agregó amonio. Los resultados muestran que la luz blanca brillante es atractiva para R. indifferens y sugieren que la orientación hacia ella puede inducir comportamientos que afectan positivamente la aptitud de la mosca, como el apareamiento y el forrajeo. Sin embargo, los estímulos asociados a luces más fuertes de las que fueron utilizados aquí pueden ser necesarios para mejorar las capturas de moscas en las trampas con amonio en condiciones de campo.
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