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Oviposition responses of Bactrocera dorsalis and Ceratitis cosyra to Dufour’s and poison gland extracts of Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

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Abstract

The predatory African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) effectively control pests by predation as well as by semiochemicals which influence the behaviour of certain species. Here, we investigated and compared the role of O. longinoda semiochemicals on the oviposition responses of two major fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) species of mango; the invasive species, Bactrocera dorsalis, endemic to Southeast Asia and the African native species, Ceratitis cosyra. We carried oviposition choice assays with ant-exposed and unexposed mangoes, using extracts of ant whole body and body parts. Our results show that the flies avoided and laid fewer eggs on weaver ant-exposed than unexposed mango peel discs. Subsequent assays with mango discs treated with whole body extracts in hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water reduced oviposition responses in C. cosyra. Moreover, discs treated with abdominal extracts in hexane and water reduced egg laying in B. dorsalis. whereas hexane, methanol and water extracts of the abdomen reduced oviposition in C. cosyra. Additionally, mango discs treated with extracts of exercised Dufour’s and poison gland in hexane elicited stronger oviposition reduction responses in C. cosyra than in B. dorsalis. These results suggest that ant gland compounds play a role in the oviposition avoidance behaviour of both fruit fly species. Moreover, both African fruit fly species and invasive Asian species, are repelled by Oecophylla longinoda semiochemicals implying that B. dorsalis experienced similar evolutionary pressures, and reacting to similar cues, from Oecophylla smaragdina in Asia as did C. cosyra from Oecophylla longinoda in Africa.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for funding the PhD fellowship, University of Pretoria, and International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) Capacity Building Program and African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS) for hosting the PhD student (BM). Financial support was provided by Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD) and icipe, core funding provided by UK Aid from the UK Government, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and the Kenyan Government. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the donors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Plant health department, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    Bethelihem Mekonnen, Sunday Ekesi & Emilie Deletre

  2. UPR HortSys, CIRAD, Univ. Montpellier, 34398 Montpellier, France

    Emilie Deletre

  3. Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, 0028, Hatfield Pretoria, South Africa

    Bethelihem Mekonnen, Abdullahi Yusuf & Christian Pirk

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  1. Bethelihem Mekonnen
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  2. Abdullahi Yusuf
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  3. Christian Pirk
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  4. Sunday Ekesi
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Correspondence to Emilie Deletre.

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Mekonnen, B., Yusuf, A., Pirk, C. et al. Oviposition responses of Bactrocera dorsalis and Ceratitis cosyra to Dufour’s and poison gland extracts of Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Int J Trop Insect Sci 41, 2775–2783 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-021-00457-z

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