A Promising Male Phenylbutanoid Attractant for Enhancing Mating Performance in Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)

Bactrocera dorsalis, a devastating pest worldwide, has a strong affinity for methyl eugenol (ME), which is used in its management strategies. ME is a male lure, a species-specific compound that enhances the mating behaviour of B. dorsalis. However, using ME in combination with the sterile insect technique (SIT) and male annihilation techniques (MAT) presents challenges, as it reduces the efficacy of SIT. Additionally, some insensitivity to ME has been reported, further decreasing the effectiveness of MAT. Therefore, it is essential to identify alternative male lures for B. dorsalis, including those that can attract non-ME-responding (NR) males. The potential of using phenylbutanoid compound, zingerone (ZN) to enhance male mating performance in NR and normal B. dorsalis males was studied. Initially, NR males showed comparable attraction to ZN compared to normal males. Subsequently, 5 days after ZN feeding, NR-males exhibited significantly higher copulation rates (p < 0.001) than ZN-deprived males, with ZN-fed males mating earlier than their non-fed counterparts. Semi-field cage assays further supported these findings, showing significantly higher copulation rates in ZN-fed males than those deprived of ZN. Additionally, wind tunnel assays revealed that virgin females have significantly greater attraction (p < 0.05) to ZN-fed males compared to ZN-deprived males. These results suggest that ZN is a potential candidate for enhancing male mating performance in B. dorsalis males, offering an alternative to ME-based strategies.