Keep Your Eggs Away: Ant Presence Reduces <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> Oviposition Behaviour through Trait-Mediated Indirect Interactions
Alternative methods to achieve sustainable agricultural production while reducing the use of chemical pesticides, such as biological control, are increasingly needed. The exploitation of trait-mediated indirect interactions (TMIIs), in which pests modify their behavior in response to some cues (e.g....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/6/532 |
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| author | Stefania Smargiassi Alberto Masoni Filippo Frizzi Paride Balzani Elisa Desiato Giovanni Benelli Angelo Canale Giacomo Santini |
| author_facet | Stefania Smargiassi Alberto Masoni Filippo Frizzi Paride Balzani Elisa Desiato Giovanni Benelli Angelo Canale Giacomo Santini |
| author_sort | Stefania Smargiassi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Alternative methods to achieve sustainable agricultural production while reducing the use of chemical pesticides, such as biological control, are increasingly needed. The exploitation of trait-mediated indirect interactions (TMIIs), in which pests modify their behavior in response to some cues (e.g., pheromones and other semiochemicals) to avoid predation risk, may be a possible strategy. In this study, we tested the effect of TMIIs of two Mediterranean ant species, <i>Crematogaster scutellaris</i> and <i>Tapinoma nigerrimum</i>, on the oviposition behaviour of <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> (Diptera: Tephritidae), one of the world’s most economically damaging pests, which attacks fruits. For each ant species, we performed choice experiments using ant-scented and control plums, counting the time spent by medflies on fruits and the number of pupae emerging from them. Results of both ant species tests showed a significantly shorter time spent by ovipositing medflies on ant-exposed plums and a lower number of pupae, when compared to the control group. Our findings highlighted that the semiochemicals released by ants on plums triggered an avoidance behaviour by medfly females, leading to lower oviposition rates. This study contributes to the understanding of indirect ant–pest interactions in Mediterranean agricultural settings and points out the potential of utilising ant-borne semiochemicals in sustainable IPM strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:19:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18c4162be978443c9c14491345f6b835 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:19:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-18c4162be978443c9c14491345f6b8352023-11-18T10:56:07ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-06-0114653210.3390/insects14060532Keep Your Eggs Away: Ant Presence Reduces <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> Oviposition Behaviour through Trait-Mediated Indirect InteractionsStefania Smargiassi0Alberto Masoni1Filippo Frizzi2Paride Balzani3Elisa Desiato4Giovanni Benelli5Angelo Canale6Giacomo Santini7Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50121 Firenze, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Florence, 50121 Firenze, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Florence, 50121 Firenze, ItalySouth Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech RepublicDepartment of Biology, University of Florence, 50121 Firenze, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Florence, 50121 Firenze, ItalyAlternative methods to achieve sustainable agricultural production while reducing the use of chemical pesticides, such as biological control, are increasingly needed. The exploitation of trait-mediated indirect interactions (TMIIs), in which pests modify their behavior in response to some cues (e.g., pheromones and other semiochemicals) to avoid predation risk, may be a possible strategy. In this study, we tested the effect of TMIIs of two Mediterranean ant species, <i>Crematogaster scutellaris</i> and <i>Tapinoma nigerrimum</i>, on the oviposition behaviour of <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> (Diptera: Tephritidae), one of the world’s most economically damaging pests, which attacks fruits. For each ant species, we performed choice experiments using ant-scented and control plums, counting the time spent by medflies on fruits and the number of pupae emerging from them. Results of both ant species tests showed a significantly shorter time spent by ovipositing medflies on ant-exposed plums and a lower number of pupae, when compared to the control group. Our findings highlighted that the semiochemicals released by ants on plums triggered an avoidance behaviour by medfly females, leading to lower oviposition rates. This study contributes to the understanding of indirect ant–pest interactions in Mediterranean agricultural settings and points out the potential of utilising ant-borne semiochemicals in sustainable IPM strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/6/532Mediterranean acrobat ant<i>Tapinoma nigerrimum</i> complexant semiochemicalsinsect fruit pestmedfly |
| spellingShingle | Stefania Smargiassi Alberto Masoni Filippo Frizzi Paride Balzani Elisa Desiato Giovanni Benelli Angelo Canale Giacomo Santini Keep Your Eggs Away: Ant Presence Reduces <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> Oviposition Behaviour through Trait-Mediated Indirect Interactions Insects Mediterranean acrobat ant <i>Tapinoma nigerrimum</i> complex ant semiochemicals insect fruit pest medfly |
| title | Keep Your Eggs Away: Ant Presence Reduces <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> Oviposition Behaviour through Trait-Mediated Indirect Interactions |
| title_full | Keep Your Eggs Away: Ant Presence Reduces <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> Oviposition Behaviour through Trait-Mediated Indirect Interactions |
| title_fullStr | Keep Your Eggs Away: Ant Presence Reduces <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> Oviposition Behaviour through Trait-Mediated Indirect Interactions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Keep Your Eggs Away: Ant Presence Reduces <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> Oviposition Behaviour through Trait-Mediated Indirect Interactions |
| title_short | Keep Your Eggs Away: Ant Presence Reduces <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> Oviposition Behaviour through Trait-Mediated Indirect Interactions |
| title_sort | keep your eggs away ant presence reduces i ceratitis capitata i oviposition behaviour through trait mediated indirect interactions |
| topic | Mediterranean acrobat ant <i>Tapinoma nigerrimum</i> complex ant semiochemicals insect fruit pest medfly |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/6/532 |
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