Provide more tools to fruit fly programs for use in the detection and eradication of mexican fruit fly (anastrepha ludens or mexfly)

This $235,495 Cooperative Agreement awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) aims to provide more tools to fruit fly detection and eradication programs for the Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens).

The key products and services to be delivered under this agreement include screening semiochemicals, pheromones, and fungal fruit infection volatiles for attractiveness, followed by lab and field testing of promising chemicals. The cooperator will also trace the biosynthetic pathways of the male-produced pheromones of the Mexican fruit fly. The expected outcomes are summarized findings from the attractant tests, pheromone pathway analysis, and a final report. The beneficiaries will be USDA and state fruit fly detection programs, who will receive chemical formulae for more robust lures to control the Mexican fruit fly.

This study will screen semiochemicals, pheromones, and fungal fruit infection volatiles for attractiveness, then test promising chemicals in the lab and field. In addition, the cooperator will trace the biosynthetic pathways of the male-produced pheromones of mexfly. Summarized findings from attractant tests and pheromone pathway analysis along with final report are the expected outcomes of this project. There are no subawards from this agreement. Beneficiaries will include USDA and state fruit fly detection programs by giving them chemical formulae for more robust lures to control mexfly.