DEVELOPMENT OF ATTRACTANTS FOR MONITORING CARIBBEAN FRUIT-FLIES (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE)

Methods for monitoring Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensa, are reviewed and areas of essential research required are suggested. Types of attractants discussed include food, pheromone, visual, and acoustical cues. Additionally, current information regarding the chemistry of male-produced pheromones and analytical methods for their detection and elucidation are reported. The predominant monitoring methods used are either cumbersome to deploy or ineffective. However, attempts to develop improved traps are often hindered by the lack of an understanding of the underlying fly response. The linking of currently available analytical techniques with an understanding of A. suspensa behavior should allow optimization of attractants and traps, and provide powerful methods for population monitoring.