1Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Science, Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC 2Institute of Chemical Technology Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC 3Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceio, BRAZIL Abstract: Fruit fly males of many species form leks and release sex pheromone to attract females during the reproductive behavior. Male sex pheromones are highly species-specific and can therefore help in taxonomic categorization or in species recognition. Previous research has demonstrated the multi-component nature of the pheromones and showed that Ceratitis rosa and Ceratitis anonae share some pheromone components, but are also characterized by certain species-specific substances. At the upcoming meeting we will report on the composition of the male pheromone in Ceratitis fasciventris. Like in C. rosa and C. anonae, male sex pheromone in C. fasciventris is multi-component with shared and specific substances. Looking for species-specific sequences in Bactrocera, Anastrepha and Ceratitis species Anna R Malacrida1*, Nidchaya Akeratawong2, Silvia Lanzavecchia3, Blanka Kalinova4, Giuliano Gasperi1 1Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ITALY 2Department of Biotechnology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, THAILAND 3Instituto de Genética “Ewald A. Favret” (INTA), B1712WAA Castelar, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA 4Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry ASCR, CZ-166 10 Prague 6, CZECH REPUBLIC *The Pavia laboratory actively contributed to this work: Ludvik M. Gomulski, Francesca Scolari, Marco Falchetto, Mosè Manni. Abstract: Our aim is the identification and characterization of species and sex-specific sequences: - to determine the intra/inter-population diversity, the species range/shift, and the indigenous or invasive status of newly observed outbreaks. - to provide insides into genes/expressions that could be associated with barriers to gene flow. Our attention has been addressed to Bactrocera dorsalis ss, to Anastrepha fraterculus and to Ceratitis capitata:
Gary Steck1 1Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, USA Abstract: Recently obtained funding for a U.S. Farm Bill project entitled "Enhancement of fruit fly immature stage identification and taxonomy" has enabled the principal investigators to undertake extensive field work in South and Central America to acquire larval and adult stages of numerous Anastrepha species for morphological and molecular studies. We made two trips to Peru (November 2012 and January-February 2013) and made collections in Departmento Cusco where the Anastrepha fauna is poorly known. Collection efforts were successful at elevations of about 3000 m (), 1100m (Echarate) and 600-800m (Pilcopata). Identification is still on-going, but at least 37 species and 3,000 specimens of adult Anastrepha were collected from traps, larvae were reared to adult stage from 14 different host plants, and a total of approximately 800 larvae have been preserved. Additional collection activities are underway in to extend the geographic range of Anastrepha spp. samples for taxonomic analysis. In Departamento Cusco, Anastrepha fraterculus s.s. is absent or rare at the lower elevations, although at least one undescribed species of the fraterculus group is present; fraterculus is present, but not dominant at mid-elevations; and it seems to be the only species present at high elevations where it is a serious pest of stone fruits. Our preliminary round of collecting yielded too few fraterculus specimens to establish a research colony for more general studies, but we have laid the groundwork for establishing a colony in the near future - hopefully in Seibersdorf. Preliminary DNA sequence data indicates that A. fraterculus populations in Departamento Cusco (Andean highland and Amazonian mid-elevations) are clearly different from the Pacific coastal populations of Peru. DNA sequences from the Cusco populations, as well as those from a mid-elevation population on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Bolivia, match those of widespread fraterculus populations in Argentina and southern Brazil. Volatile chemicals released by Tephritid flies as a tool to understanding species diversity Peter E. A. Teal Chemistry Research Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA-ARS, 1700 SW 23 Dr., Gainesville, FL. 32604, USA Abstract: