Physiological state influences the antennal response of Anastrepha obliqua to male and host volatiles

The sexual and host‐related behaviours of the fruit fly Anastrepha obliqua Macquart (Diptera: Tephritidae) are mediated by volatile compounds. However, whether the physiological state of this species affects its antennal and behavioural responses to semiochemicals is unknown. The effects of age, mating status, diet and the topical application of methoprene, a Juvenile hormone analogue (JHA), on the antennal sensitivity of this tephritid fruit fly species to selected male [(Z)‐3‐nonenol] and host fruit volatiles (ethyl benzoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl butyrate and trans‐β‐ocimene) are investigated using electroantennography (EAG). Overall, (Z)‐3‐nonenol and ethyl benzoate elicit the highest EAG responses in both sexes. Flies of both sexes aged 1, 5 and 10 days old show higher EAG responses to the tested compounds compared with flies aged 20 days old. Virgin females and males show higher EAG responses to volatile compounds than mated flies. Females and males fed with sugar plus protein show higher antennal responses to volatiles compared with flies fed sugar or protein alone. Flies of both sexes treated with methoprene show higher antennal responses than flies treated with acetone (control). These results suggest that the peripheral olfactory system in A. obliqua is modulated by the physiological state of the flies.     

Effect of food deprivation on attractiveness of food sources, containing natural and artificial sugar and protein, to three African fruit flies: Ceratitis cosyra, Ceratitis fasciventris, and Ceratitis capitata

The effects of food deprivation, age, and mating status on the responses of three fruit fly species, Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), Ceratitits fasciventris (Bezzi), and Ceratitits capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) to natural and artificial sugar and protein food sources were investigated. Natural food sources included guava [Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae)] juice (a common host fruit for all three fruit fly species) and bird faeces (farm chicken). Artificial food sources included molasses (obtained from a local sugar factory) and a locally produced protein bait (the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology yeast). In all species studied, sugar deprivation of immature (1–2‐day‐old) male and female flies increased their response to food odours, although it did not change their preference for the type of odour (protein or sugar). Protein deprivation of mature (14–17‐day‐old) male and female flies also increased their response to food odours compared to protein‐fed flies. Protein‐deprived females were highly attracted to odours from protein sources in particular. Odours from natural food sources, guava juice, and chicken faeces, were more attractive to food‐deprived flies than were odours from artificial sugar and protein sources. Attraction to food odours increased significantly with increasing age for protein‐deprived females of all species. For males and females of all species, nutritional state was a more important factor than mating status in influencing responses of flies to food odours. Practical implications of these findings are discussed in terms of strategies for fruit fly control using food baits.     

Three physical barriers with obvious effects on Carposina sasakii selection behavior to two dominant jujube tree volatiles

The peach fruit moth (PFM), Carposina sasakii Matsumura (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae), a severe pest of Ziziphus jujuba Miller fruit trees (jujube, Rhamnaceae) mainly grown in China, has increasingly hindered the development of the jujube industry in recent years. In order to provide a theoretical basis for a physical obstruction method, we evaluated the effect of three commonly sold physical barriers on PFM host‐searching behavior. Two principal volatiles generated by the jujube tree, α‐farnesene and cis‐3‐hexenyl acetate (leaf acetate), were used as references to detect electroantennography (EAG) response values of 2‐, 4‐, and 6‐day‐old PFM adults. The results indicated different EAG responses toward α‐farnesene and leaf acetate between different ages of PFM, and males responded differently than females. The EAG responses were stronger in 4‐day‐old males to leaf acetate and in 2‐day‐old females to α‐farnesene. The two‐choice behavioral Y‐tube olfactometer assay confirmed that PFM was strongly attracted to α‐farnesene and leaf acetate. We determined the EAG and behavioral responses of PFM after spraying three kinds of physical barriers: Liquid Film Fruit Bag, High Lipid Film, and Jujube Protection No. 1. We obtained strong inhibitory effects on PFM attraction to both volatile lures using these barriers, including negative taxis by both females and males to Liquid Film Fruit Bag and Jujube Protection No. 1. We can infer that Liquid Film Fruit Bag is the most promising potential physical barrier for PFM control, with Jujube Protection No. 1 ranking as second‐best.     

Insecticide,sugar, and diet effects on feeding and mortality in Rhagoletis indifferens (Dipt., Tephritidae)

The effects of spinosad bait and various insecticides, the presence of sugar in insecticides, and diet on feeding responses and mortality in western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Dipt., Tephritidae), were determined. Numbers of feeding events on insecticides with sugar were greater than on insecticides alone, but there was only a small effect of diet on feeding responses to insecticides with sugar. Feeding durations on imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and acetamiprid with sugar were shorter than on sugar water and spinosad bait, as the neonicotinoids paralysed flies quickly. Flies that fed on sugar only (nitrogen‐starved) suffered higher mortalities when exposed to spinosad, thiamethoxam and azinphos‐methyl than to imidacloprid, acetamiprid and indoxacarb, and mortality in between these two groups of treatments when exposed to spinosad bait. Mortalities were greater when sugar was added to insecticides, and were higher in nitrogen‐starved than fully‐fed (yeast extract + sugar fed) flies. Flies that fed once on thiamethoxam were killed more quickly than those that fed once on spinosad bait and spinosad. Results suggest that thiamethoxam is comparable to spinosad in its effects on mortality, and that using it with sugar in bait may also have similar results as using spinosad bait or spinosad. One benefit of using thiamethoxam with sugar may be that it kills flies more quickly, before they can oviposit, than spinosad bait, although whether a fly will feed on it may depend on how much sugar or nitrogenous food it has eaten.     

Evaluation of commercial and field‐expedient baited traps for house flies,Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae)

A comparison of nine commercial baited fly traps on Florida dairy farms demonstrated that Terminator traps collected significantly more (13,323/trap) house flies (Musca domestica L.) than the others tested. Final Flight, Fly Magnet, and FliesBeGone traps collected intermediate numbers of flies (834‐2,166), and relatively few were caught with ISCA, Advantage, Fermone Big Boy, Squeeze & Snap, or OakStump traps (<300). Terminator traps collected about twice as many flies (799.8/trap) as FliesBeGone traps (343.8) when each trap was baited with its respective attractant, but when the attractants were switched between the two trap types, collections were significantly lower (77‐108) than was observed with traps baited with their respective attractant. Solutions of molasses were significantly more attractive to house flies than honey, maple syrup, or jaggery (date palm sugar). Field‐expedient traps constructed from discarded PET water bottles were much less effective than commercial traps, but painting the tops of such traps with black spray paint resulted in a six‐fold increase in trap capture.     

Volatiles released from foliar extract of host plant enhance landing rates of gravid Polygonia c‐album females,but do not stimulate oviposition

The role of olfactory cues for host search is much less investigated in day‐active butterflies than in their relatives, the nocturnal moths. The goal of this study was to investigate whether host‐plant volatiles from foliar extracts of hop, Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabaceae), evoke electroantennographic (EAG) responses, increase landing rates, and stimulate egg‐laying behavior of gravid Polygonia c‐album L. (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) females. Eighty‐nine volatile compounds were detected in a non‐concentrated methanol extract of hop by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, 11 of which elicited an EAG response. Concentration of the crude extract significantly reduced landing rates on artificial leaves treated with the sample due to loss of volatile compounds, but after landing the oviposition response of gravid females was not affected. A mixture of eight commercially available EAG‐active volatiles increased the landing rate of gravid females to their source but did not act as oviposition stimulants. Dividing the volatile compounds into two groups – consisting of (1) hexanal, (E)‐2‐hexenal, octanal, nonanal, and decanal, and (2) sulcatone, humulene, and benzyl alcohol – obliterated effectiveness, revealing synergism between compounds. Although volatiles did not stimulate oviposition, they significantly contributed to the distribution of eggs by increasing the landing rates on treated artificial leaves.     

Effect of semolina-jaggery diet on survival and development of Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster is an ideal model organism for developmental studies. This study tests the potential of semolina-jaggery (SJ) diet as a new formulation for bulk rearing of flies. Semolina and jaggery are organic products obtained from wheat endosperm and cane sugar, respectively. Semolina is a rich source of carbohydrates and protein. Jaggery has a high content of dietary sugars. Moreover, preparation of semolina jaggery diet is cost-effective and easy. Thus, the current study aimed to compare survival and developmental parameters of flies fed the SJ diet to flies fed the standard cornmeal-sugar-yeast (CSY) diet. SJ diet enhanced survival of flies without affecting fecundity; male flies showed increased resistance to starvation. A higher number of flies emerged at F₂ and F₃ generation when fed the SJ diet than when fed the control CSY diet. SJ diet did not increase fly body weight and lipid percentage. Therefore, SJ diet can be used for bulk rearing of healthy flies at par with the standard cornmeal-sugar-yeast diet.     

Effect of semolina-jaggery diet on survival and development of Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster is an ideal model organism for developmental studies. This study tests the potential of semolina-jaggery (SJ) diet as a new formulation for bulk rearing of flies. Semolina and jaggery are organic products obtained from wheat endosperm and cane sugar, respectively. Semolina is a rich source of carbohydrates and protein. Jaggery has a high content of dietary sugars. Moreover, preparation of semolina jaggery diet is cost-effective and easy. Thus, the current study aimed to compare survival and developmental parameters of flies fed the SJ diet to flies fed the standard cornmeal-sugar-yeast (CSY) diet. SJ diet enhanced survival of flies without affecting fecundity; male flies showed increased resistance to starvation. A higher number of flies emerged at F₂ and F₃ generation when fed the SJ diet than when fed the control CSY diet. SJ diet did not increase fly body weight and lipid percentage. Therefore, SJ diet can be used for bulk rearing of healthy flies at par with the standard cornmeal-sugar-yeast diet.     

Food deprivation effects on carbohydrate levels and their relation to feeding responses of western cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis indifferens to spinosad bait

Abstract The nutritional state of tephritid fruit flies affects various behaviours. The present study aims to determine food deprivation effects on carbohydrate levels and their relation to feeding responses to spinosad bait (GF‐120^® Naturalyte^® Fruit Fly Bait; Dow AgroSciences, Indianapolis, Indiana), as measured indirectly by mortality, in western cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae). Sugar levels in 1–2‐day‐old flies exposed to sugar for 1 h and then deprived of sugar for 10–24 h decrease but, in flies with access to continuous sugar and no sugar, they increase and do not change, respectively. Sugar levels in 14–15‐day‐old flies that have had free access to yeast extract and sugar and are then deprived of it for 0 and 10 h do not differ but they are lower at 24 and 30 h. Mortalities of 1–2‐day‐old flies exposed to sugar for 1 h and then deprived of it for 0–24 h progressively increase but they do not increase in flies given no sugar because the mortalities in this treatment are equally high at all times. By contrast, mortalities of 14–15‐day‐old flies deprived of food increase from 0 to 10–30 h but there are no differences from 10 to 30 h. Mortalities of 14–15‐day‐old flies deprived of food for 3 and 6 h also do not differ. Food deprivation effects on glycogen are similar, although glycogen occurs at lower levels than sugar. The results obtained suggest that R. indifferens flies need to feed multiple times on carbohydrate foods during the day to maintain their carbohydrate levels, that their responses to spinosad bait will increase if they do not, and that there may be age‐related effects on carbohydrate levels and responses to spinosad bait.     

Behavioral analysis of learning and memory in Anastrepha fraterculus

We evaluate the influence of prior exposure to artificial substrate for oviposition on learning and memory in the fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Some females were previously exposed to artificial fruits made of water, agar, and blackberry [Rubus spec. (Rosaceae)] or guava [Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae)] pulp for 48 and 72 h. We also studied adult flies exposed for 72 h to essential oil of lemongrass [Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf, Poaceae] and adult flies from larvae exposed to the oil. Control females were naive with respect to these experimental substrates. Prior experience with blackberry‐based artificial fruits resulted in an increase in the number of punctures and deposited eggs by A. fraterculus, and memory lasted for up to 72 h. On the other hand, fly behavior was independent of exposure to guava‐based substrate. Prior exposure of 1‐ or 15‐day‐old females to artificial substrate with lemongrass oil modified innate substrate selection behavior. The scent of lemongrass oil during the larval stage modified innate oviposition responses of adult A. fraterculus. The study shows that A. fraterculus females are able to learn and retain information through chemical stimuli released by both host (blackberry and guava) and non‐host (lemongrass) species, and they can use olfactory memory obtained during the larval stage to select oviposition sites.     

Flower and fruit volatiles assist host‐plant location in the Tomato fruit fly Neoceratitis cyanescens

Mature females of the tomato fruit fly Neoceratitis cyanescens can detect host fruit at a short distance using only visual stimuli, but little is known about the role of airborne volatile cues in the host searching strategy. A series of experiments is conducted in a laboratory wind tunnel, in which the behavioural responses of individual flies to volatiles from Solanaceae host plants (including tomato Lycopersicum esculentum Mill., bug weed Solanum mauritianum Scop. and Turkey berry Solanum torvum Sw.) are observed, according to some environmental (air speed) and physiological (age and mating status of females, time of day) factors. Mature females respond primarily to specific olfactory cues from blends of flowers or host fruit, preferentially unripe fruit for bug weed, as opposed to ripe fruit for Turkey berry or tomato. Males are also highly attracted by the odour of unripe fruit of bug weed. Wind plays a key role, as shown by the proportion of flies that reach the upwind section of the tunnel in the presence of both fruit odour and air flow (66.7%) and in the absence of either fruit odour (13.3%) or wind (36.7%). In response to fruit volatiles carried by wind, flies embark in a ‘plume tracking’ or ‘aim and shoot' flight, consistent with odour‐conditioned anemotaxis. Females respond to host fruit odour regardless of their age, egg load or mating status, and also more consistently in the afternoon, which is their preferential time of day for egg‐laying. Searching behaviour and response to host volatiles in N. cyanescens are discussed in the light of host‐finding and an adaptive strategy.     

Effects of pyriproxyfen and buprofezin on immature development and reproduction in the stable fly*

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), is one of the most significant biting flies that affect cattle. The use of traditional insecticides for stable fly control has only a limited success owing to the insect's unique feeding behaviours and immature development sites. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effects of two insect growth regulator (IGR) products, pyriproxyfen and buprofezin, on the development of the immature stages of the stable fly and the effects of pyriproxyfen on oviposition and egg hatch. Both pyriproxyfen and buprofezin had significant inhibitory effects on immature development. The LC₅₀s of pyriproxyfen and buprofezin were 0.002 and 18.92 p.p.m., respectively. Topical treatment of adult females with different doses of pyriproxyfen had significant negative effects on both female oviposition and egg hatching when 1‐ and 3‐day‐old females were treated, and the effects were dose dependent. A significant reduction in the mean number of eggs laid was observed only at the highest pyriproxyfen dose (8 µg/fly) and egg hatch was unaffected by pyriproxyfen treatment when 5‐day‐old females were treated. Results from the present study indicate that pyriproxyfen has the potential to be used as part of an integrated stable fly management programme.     

Lekking and the small-scale distribution of the sexes in the Caribbean fruit fly,Anastrepha suspensa (Loew)

Male and female Anastrepha suspensa(Loew) had a clumped distribution in the foliage of their guava host plants. Males were no closer to other males than they were to females or than females were to other females. Flies were often found in roughly the same locations over time. However, contemporaries (flies present at the same time) were closer to each other than subsequent flies were to their predecessors. Males were more likely to be found near spots previously occupied by males than they were to spots used previously by females. Some trees had more flies than others, but there was no regional (northwest, etc.) preference within trees. Females were no more likely to be found in the vicinity of clumped (lekking) males than they were by isolated males. About a third of the females taken from inside leks had sperm in their spermathecae, and it is not clear if their motive for being in these areas was sexual. In pairs of males (within 15 cm of each other), the larger fly tends to be in a position farther up the branch, suggesting that larger males may control preferred territories. It seems possible that males attempting to intercept females accumulate in favorable microhabitats where females are likely to be concentrated and that leks have evolved from such clumping.     

Electroantennogram responses of the carrot fly, Psila rosae, to volatile plant components

ABSTRACT. Electroantennogram (EAG) responses of male and female carrot flies, Psila rosae F. (Diptera: Psilidae), were recorded to thirty-six volatile plant constituents. The most distinct EAG responses were obtained to: (1) the general green leaf volatiles 1-hexanol, trans-2-hexen-1-ol and cis-3-hexen-1-ol, their isomers cis-2-hexen-1-ol and trans-3-hexen-1-ol, the alcohol 1-heptanol, the ester cis-3-hexenyl acetate and the leaf aldehydes hexanal and trans-2-hexenal, and (2) from four compounds associated with the umbelliferous host plants of this insect, namely trans-methyl-iso-eugenol, β-caryophyllene, linalool and trans-2-nonenal. Higher responses were elicited by the leaf aldehydes than by the corresponding alcohols. Although the absolute amplitude of the female response was over twice that of the male, there were no differences between the relative responses to the compounds tested in both sexes, with the exception of a much higher response to the leaf aldehydes in the male. The shape of the EAG evoked by the various compounds was consistently different, with the slowest recovery being recorded for trans-methyl-iso-eugenol. While the antennal olfactory receptors of the carrot fly are sensitive to the closely related general green leaf volatiles, they are most specifically tuned to the aldehyde component of this green odour complex. In addition, the ability of this insect to discriminate between different plants may be augmented by the perception of a group of more host specific volatiles. The conformity of the responses of males and females to the compounds tested may indicate that host plant volatiles plays an additional role as an aggregation cue for both sexes.     

苹毛丽金龟对植物挥发物成分的触角电位及行为反应

为筛选适宜的苹毛丽金龟Proagopertha lucidula (Faldermann)引诱剂化学物质, 对已报道的金龟子科两性引诱剂单一组分进行了触角电位（EAG）和Y型嗅觉仪中的嗅觉反应测定。结果表明: 在10 μg刺激剂量下测试的11 种植物挥发物中, 只有顺-3-己烯-1-醇、香叶醇、茴香脑和丁香酚有明确的EAG反应值, 其他7种化合物具有弱反应值。剂量反应曲线表明, 具有明确的EAG活性的4种化合物激发的反应强度与化合物的剂量呈正相关。在Y型嗅觉仪中, 顺-3-己烯-1-醇、香叶醇、茴香脑和丁香酚4种化合物在1, 10, 100 μg剂量下的行为反应百分率都显著高于对照溶剂正己烷, 且雌雄之间无显著差异。该研究结果可为开发苹毛丽金龟田间引诱剂奠定基础。     

Allyl‐2,6‐dimethoxyphenol,a female‐biased compound,is robustly attractive to conspecific males of Bactrocera dorsalis at close range

Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) play important roles in mate recognition and chemical communication. To explore the cues regulating courtship and mating behaviour in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), CHCs were extracted from mature virgin female and male oriental fruit flies using n‐hexane. Nine compounds – i.e., 4‐allyl‐2,6‐dimethoxyphenol (designated ‘compound 3’) and eight ester compounds – had significantly greater abundance in female samples than in males. Of these nine compounds, six (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8) elicited electrophysiological responses from the antennae of male flies. Compound 3 did not elicit a detectable male antennal response, but in Y‐tube olfactometer bioassays, it exhibited robust attractiveness to conspecific males at close range. We speculate that compound 3 is a close‐range sex pheromone in B. dorsalis. A mating competition experiment revealed that compound 3 significantly increased the competitiveness of males, which implied that compound 3 might be used in control programs of B. dorsalis.     

Reproductive behaviour of the South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae): laboratory and field studies

Abstract. The mate choice, courtship and oviposition behaviour of laboratory-reared and field-collected Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) were compared. In laboratory cultures in Southampton the duration of male calling activity in small leks increased gradually from 1-2h at 5 days old to up to 7 h at 10 days. This finding correlates with previous reports on the time at which male salivary glands, which are believed to produce sex pheromone, are fully developed. Wild flies which emerged from infested fruits in Brazil began to oviposit on the day they mated, whereas in laboratory flies oviposition began 1 day following the first mating. Both types of fly usually defended their position on a particular fruit throughout the day, and re-mated with either virgin or mated males. There was no significant difference in mating duration. Females did not copulate before the mean age (±SE) of 16.8±0.9 days. For both types of flies mating initiation occurred in the first 2h of photophase, with virgin females choosing mainly mated males. The average number of matings in the laboratory was three for females and four for males, and the interval between matings in females was significantly increased after the second mating. It is suggested that the tendency of virgin females to mate with mated males will lead to increased fitness, as males are on average 48 days old at their second mating. The potential life span of around 200 days for both sexes would allow adults to bridge the gap between seasonally available fruits in warm-temperate and sub-tropical South America.     

Mortality of Rhagoletis indifferens exposed to hydrolyzed protein baits and spinosad in the absence and presence of yeast extract

Western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), is the major quarantine pest of sweet cherry, Prunus avium (L.) L. (Rosaceae), in the Pacific northwest of the USA and in British Columbia in Canada. Although spinosad bait (GF‐120 NF Naturalyte® Fruit Fly Bait) is used for the control of R. indifferens in this region, the effects of alternate food sources on fly responses to this bait have not been studied. In this study, experiments were conducted to determine mortalities of flies exposed to hydrolyzed protein baits in the presence of sugar only and sugar + yeast extract food. All baits contained Entrust® (termed ‘spinosad alone’). When flies were exposed to GF‐120 with or without added ammonia compounds (uric acid, ammonium acetate, and ammonium carbonate) for 48 h, mortalities were higher in the presence of sugar only than in the presence of sugar + yeast extract, but when flies were exposed to spinosad alone, mortalities were similar in presence of either of the two foods. In another experiment comparing GF‐120, Nu‐Lure, Mazoferm, Baker's yeast extract, and spinosad alone, mortalities in the GF‐120, Mazoferm, and Baker's yeast extract treatments were higher in the presence of sugar only than in the presence of sugar + yeast extract, but in the Nu‐Lure and spinosad alone treatments, mortalities were similar in the presence of either of the two foods. Overall results suggest that the indirect effects of yeast extract food on mortality are dependent on bait type and that mortalities caused by spinosad alone and baits are similar. Nu‐Lure and spinosad alone may have an advantage over other treatments for fly control, because their effects do not appear to be affected by the presence of nitrogenous food.     

棉铃虫蛾对寄主植物挥发油的嗅觉电生理及行为反应

本项研究以Tenax TA、Tenax GR为吸附剂,正己烷为洗脱剂,得到了玉米雄穗、玉米花丝、棉花花、棉花顶尖、棉蕾、芹菜、花生叶及花的挥发油。触角电位(EAG)测试结果表明,参试寄主植物及器官的挥发油均有一定的EAG活性,EAG的反应幅度为0.1～1.2mV,雌性棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera对其产卵寄主或器官的EAG反应在1～10日龄内有随着日龄增加而增大的趋势,交配蛾对棉花花、棉花嫩尖、芹菜、棉蕾的挥发油的EAG反应显著高于处女蛾,雌蛾在经过花生、玉米花丝及棉花顶尖挥发油处理的滤纸上落卵量显著高于对照,表明这几种挥发油中含有可刺激棉铃虫选择其产卵的它感信息化合物。剂量反应曲线表明,交配可显著降低雌蛾对棉花嫩尖和棉花花挥发油的敏感阈值。四臂嗅觉仪测试棉铃虫对不同寄主植物挥发油的行为反应表明,棉蕾、棉花叶、玉米花丝、花生的挥发油均具有-定的诱蛾活性,选择系数分别为0.78、0.61、0.49、0.31。     

Spatial and temporal partitioning of behaviour by adult dacines: direct evidence for methyl eugenol as a mate rendezvous cue for Bactrocera cacuminata

Abstract. Resource use in adult Dacinae (Diptera: Tephritidae) is believed to be restricted to the host plant (i.e. the plant that provides fruit for oviposition and larval development). However, studies on Bactrocera cacuminata did not support this hypothesis. Thus, it was hypothesized that adult flies partition their diurnal activities between spatially separated resources (host plant, sugar, protein and methyl eugenol) as a function of the physiological status of the fly (immature, mature–unmated, mature–mated). In accordance with a priori predictions, the results of a field‐cage study show that there are significant diurnal patterns in abundance and behaviour, and that flies of different physiological status use resources differently. Immature flies spend most of their time foraging for sugar and protein to facilitate development. Sexually mature flies forage for sugars during the day, and at dusk, responded strongly to methyl eugenol and mate. The fact that polygynous males wait at methyl eugenol at dusk whereas the mated, monandrous females spend their time ovipositing in fruit and are nonresponsive to methyl eugenol, supports Metcalf's hypothesis that such phenylpropanoids serve as mate rendezvous cues.