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Angeli's Lab Members





Ochan Joseph Lazarous
Master student (Mar. 2018 - )
OchanJoseph.Lazarous@natec.unibz.it




Title "Age sex-dependent attraction of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) to food and oviposition cues"

Age and sex difference plays an important role in the choice of food and oviposition cues of pest insects. In Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, young and virgin adult females are known to prefer proteinous food sources for their growth and sexual maturity. In this research, we aim to identify food and oviposition cues for both males and females of C. capitata with the final goal to develop a new attractive blend to be adapted for fruit fly control in integrated as well as in biological control farming. Behavioural responses of 3-5days old and 6-10 days old adults will be performed to three attractants: fermented yeast, GF-120, and a 6-volatiles blend. Previous investigations showed that adults of C. capitata are attracted towards fermentation products to recover their energy and for sexual maturation. Moreover, males are attracted also to some plant derived chemicals, though it is believed that feeding on it boosts their sexual competitiveness. Regardless of their function, these attractants could be used in management techniques such as protein bait sprays and male annihilation techniques.

Last updated 11.6.2018