Toxicity of anethole and its effects on egg production of Ceratitis capitata Wied. (Dipt., tephritidae)

We report the effects of anethole on adult Ceratitis capitata Wied. (Diptera, Tephritidae) which cause serious damage to fruit crops. Because of the toxicological and environmental pollution due to the indiscriminate use of organophosphates against the endophagous larvae, the control of this pest is now mainly directed against the adults, by the application of bait sprays. Considerable toxic effects have been obtained by oral administration to adults of nutritive formulations containing 5% anethole with some hydrolised commercial proteins. In this test we observed high values of mortality (85% after 24 h) and a total inhibition of reproductive activity. The toxic effect produced by oral administration of the compound tested appears to be correlated to irreversible damage to the gut of the medfly. These results acquire a particular importance in view of the introduction of alternative methods for the control of the medfly. In particular, our objective is the testing of relevant formulations of this active principle in field. The use of anethole combined with protein baits, which can be used in the open field, is therefore particularly promising.