Journal of Applied Entomology (2021) 145, 841-855

Anastasia I. Kokkari, Panagiotis G. Milonas, Eirini Anastasaki, Georgios D. Floros, Nikos A. Kouloussis and Dimitrios S. Koveos (2021)
Determination of volatile substances in olives and their effect on reproduction of the olive fruit fly
Journal of Applied Entomology 145 (9), 841-855
Abstract: Females of the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae lay their eggs in olives mainly using fruit volatile stimuli. Using GC-MS analysis, we determined the chemical composition of the volatile blend emitted from field-collected olive fruit of cv. Megaritiki, at different stages of maturity. GC-MS analysis demonstrated qualitative and quantitative differences in the headspace blend emitted by the olive fruit. Certain chemicals such as toluene, n-octane, α-pinene, limonene, ethyl hexanol, nonanal n-dodecane, decanal and n-tetradecane were detected in greater amounts, irrespective of the growth stage of the fruit. The flies' exposure to a number of these chemicals, such as n-octane and α-pinene, as well as to a mixture consisting of n-octane, α-pinene, limonene, ethyl hexanol, nonanal, n-dodecane, decanal and n–tetradecane favoured successful mating and egg production. The results may contribute to the improvement of the mass rearing of the fly, through these findings, which illustrate the positive effect that certain fruit volatile chemicals have on the fly's reproduction and offer a better understanding of the relation between the fly and the host fruit.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Panagiotis G. Milonas, Nikos A. Kouloussis

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pheromones/attractants/traps
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bactrocera oleae	Olive (Olea europaea)	Greece