Effects of Raspberry Ketone on the Mating Success of Male Melon Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Laboratory tests were conducted to determine whether feeding on raspberry ketone affected the mating success of male melon flies, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett). The effect of this chemical was time-dependent. Males exposed to raspberry ketone obtained a disproportionately small number of matings when tested on the day of exposure but a disproportionately large number of matings when tested 1 d after exposure. The chemical had no detectable effect on mating frequency in tests conducted 3 d or 7 d after feeding by the treated males. Males exposed to raspberry ketone were less likely to be captured in traps than unexposed males. These results are compared with similar studies on other tephritids.