Field attraction of mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) to synthetic stereoselective enantiomers of the ceralure B1 isomer

Stereoselectively synthesized enantiomers of ethyl cis-5-iodo-trans-2-methy lcyclohexane-1-carboxylate (ceralure B1). a potent lure for male Mediterran ean fruit flies, were tested in the laboratory and the field against labora tory reared sterile flies. The (-)-ceralure B1 enantiomer was significantly more attractive than the (+)-ceralure B1 antipode. Dose-response studies o f the above compounds demonstrated that (-)-ceralure B1 and to a lesser ext ent, racemic ceralure B1, captured consistently more male flies than trimed lure, the current male attractant used in detection programs. Longevity tes ts demonstrated that, over a three-week period, both (-)-ceralure B1 and ra cemic ceralure B1 caught significantly more flies than trimedlure. The synt hesis of specific enantiomers of ceralure B1 shows great promise as a male attractant that could replace trimedlure for detection and delimitation in action programs aimed at this exotic pest.