Laboratory method for measuring the attractiveness of pheromones to adult Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

A technique was developed for evaluating the effects of pheromones on adult house fly, Musca domestica (L.) feeding. U-shaped pipettes were placed next to Celotex blocks treated with (Z)-9-tricosene in cages with 200 adult house flies. The pipettes were filled with sucrose so that a positive meniscus formed where flies could feed. The amount of sucrose consumed was determined by measuring the amount needed to refill the pipettes after 24 h. Flies ingested significantly more sucrose solution placed near a Celotex block treated with (Z)-9-tricosene than from a control without pheromone. The cis and cis/trans isomers of (Z)-9-tricosene were equally effective in increasing ingestion. Commercially available polyvinylchloride strips were not as effective as the Celotex block when both were treated with (Z)-9-tricosene. Evaluation of these (Z)-9-tricosene presentations using our new laboratory method precluded the need for more costly field evaluations.