Cues associated with host recognition of Bactrocera depressa (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Seohyun Kim¹, Soohyun Kim², Minki Kim³, Ohseok Kwon^1,2, Ikju Park^1,2
 
1. Department of Plant Protection and Quarantine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
2. School of Applied Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
3. Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research and Extension Service, Chilgok, South Korea
Seohyun Kim: shkim9721@naver.com
Soohyun Kim: oosoh88@knu.ac.kr
Minki Kim: mkhouse20@korea.kr
Ohseok Kwon: ecoento@knu.ac.kr
Ikju Park: ikjupark@knu.ac.kr
 
 
 
 
 
Frugivorous insects exploit multiple cues on potential oviposition sites. The physiological changes on an oviposition site induce neighboring plants to increase plant defense levels and also inform conspecific females to find other ovipositing sites. To examine the physiological changes at the oviposition site, we chose squash and Bactrocera depressa (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Daegu, South Korea as a model system. First, the potential photosynthetic capacity at the oviposition site was measured by quantum yield values on both damaged (i.e., puncturing a hole on the surface of squashes to simulate the oviposition) and healthy squashes. Second, the relative reflectance rate of oviposition sites was compared with a photoradiometer between damaged and healthy squashes. Although B. depressa was not found in the field sites from June to August 2022, the simulated oviposition on squashes provides the foundation for elucidating physiological changes by the oviposition of female B. depressa in the field. Further, combined with dynamic headspace volatile collection, this study contributes to developing a non-destructive method to identify eggs of fruit flies in squashes, which will be beneficial for pest quarantine.