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

Pheromone production was quantified for males of the Caribbean fruit f ly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), with access to protein, sugar, and wat er (fully fed), sugar and water (sugar only), or water (water only) ov ernight. Water-only males produced little pheromone the next day, and production was significantly less than pheromone production by sugar-o nly and fully fed males during peak periods. Food access significantly affected pheromone component blend. Late in the photophase, percentag e epianastrephin was highest and percentage suspensolide was lowest in water-only males. Fully fed males exhibited a sharp increase in phero mone 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, howe ver, if males had adequate access to food earlier in photophase. Femal e response to pheromone in a flight tunnel was directly related to amo unt of pheromone produced.