FOOD AVAILABILITY AND PHEROMONE PRODUCTION BY MALES OF ANASTREPHA-SUSPENSA (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE)

Pheromone production was quantified for males of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), with access to protein, sugar, and water (fully fed), sugar and water (sugar only), or water (water only) overnight. Water-only males produced little pheromone the next day, and production was significantly less than pheromone production by sugar-only and fully fed males during peak periods. Food access significantly affected pheromone component blend. Late in the photophase, percentage epianastrephin was highest and percentage suspensolide was lowest in water-only males. Fully fed males exhibited a sharp increase in pheromone production late in photophase, whereas sugar-only males exhibited a fairly broad peak in production that started earlier in photophase. Pheromone production was less dependent on availability of food, however, if males had adequate access to food earlier in photophase. Female response to pheromone in a flight tunnel was directly related to amount of pheromone produced.