Effect of source and condition of animal excrement on attractiveness to adults of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

On potted host trees in field cages, we evaluated effects of source and condition of excrement from domestic and feral animals on attractiveness to released laboratory-cultured and wild Mediterranean fruit flies (medflies), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Compared with PIB-7, which is a widely used proteinaceous attractant in bait sprays against medflies, droppings from domestic gamecocks, gamehens, chickens, and feral geckos (lizards) were significantly more attractive, droppings from feral Myna birds were equally attractive, and droppings from horses, cows, goats, and pigs were significantly less attractive. All of these substances were significantly more attractive than water alone. Gamecock droppings collected within 24 h of deposition proved most attractive when tested a few hours after collection or 1 d after removal from cold storage. They were less attractive when tested 2-3 d after collection or a few hours after removal from cold storage. Differences in attractiveness among droppings may be attributed to differences in nitrogen excretion systems and diets among animals from which droppings were collected and to differences in composition and quantity of bacteria associated with droppings. We conclude that chemically characterizing the odor of relatively fresh droppings from birds such as gamefowl or chickens receiving high-protein diets could lead to improved lures for monitoring or eventually controlling C. capitata females