Responses of female oriental fruit flies (Diptera : Tephritidae) to protein and host fruit odors in field cage and open field tests

The attraction of female oriental fruit flies, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) , to protein and host fruit odors was examined in field-cage and field expe riments. In field-cage experiments, we examined how the physiological stale of laboratory-cultured female oriental fruit flies affected their response s to protein (Nu-Lure) and fruit (orange) odors. Both mated and unmated, pr otein-fed females (10-12 d old) were more attracted to fruit odors than to protein odors, whereas mated, protein-deprived females (10-12 d old) and un mated, protein-fed females (2-3 d old) were equally attracted to fruit and protein odors. The combination of fruit and protein odors was less attracti ve to protein-fed females than fruit odors alone. Field tests were conducte d to compare capture rates of wild oriental fruit flies in traps baited wit h commercially available protein Lairs, Nu-Lure, Trece A.M. Supercharger, a nd BioLure, and in traps baited with either fruit (orange) or Nu-Lure in a commercial guava orchard. Spheres baited with either Supercharger or BioLur e captured more female oriental fruit flies than unbaited spheres when the lures were hung above spheres. Traps baited with Nu-Lure were more effectiv e for capturing females than traps baited with orange puree in field tests.