Behavioural Responses of the Female Melon Fly Bactrocera cucurbitae to Male Produced Sex Pheromone

Abstract

Behavioral responses of female Bactrocera cucurbitae to the male sex pheromones were studied by using a double-choice olfactometer with an air flow. Sexually mature females responding to the male pheromone during dusk period showed various types of behavioral activities. The most prominent sexual responses of females observed during the study were, attraction to the males and probing of the ovipositor. Wing vibration of males which is considered to be a mating call was observed in Bactrocera cucurbitae only at dusk. Behavioral responses of females observed in the olfactometer confirm the storage and release of a male sex pheromone which is highly attractive to females. Previous mating reduced the responsiveness of females to the male pheromone, whereas it neither affected the release of the pheromone by males nor diminish the ability of males to attract females.