Composition of chemical attractants affects trap catches of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, and other blowflies

J Chem Ecol. 2004 Apr;30(4):851-66. doi: 10.1023/b:joec.0000028436.64855.5d.

Abstract

Numbers of Lucilia cuprina (Australian sheep blowfly), Chrysomya spp., and Calliphora spp. blowflies caught on sticky traps baited with various synthetic attractants or a standard liver/sodium sulfide attractant in western Queensland were recorded. Numbers of each genus collected were influenced by the composition of the chemical attractants. Attractant mixtures based on 2-mercaptoethanol, indole, butanoic/pentanoic acid, and a sodium sulfide solution gave 5- to 20-fold higher L. cuprina catches than the liver standard. These blends attracted similar numbers of Chrysomya spp. (0.85-2.7x) and fewer Calliphora spp. (0.02-0.2x) compared to the liver standard. These synthetic attractants were more effective and selective for L. cuprina than the standard liver/sodium sulfide attractant, and they can be packaged in controlled-release dispensers to generate constant, prolonged release of the attractant.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diptera / pathogenicity
  • Diptera / physiology*
  • Female
  • Insect Control / methods*
  • Male
  • Pheromones / chemistry
  • Pheromones / physiology*
  • Queensland
  • Sheep

Substances

  • Pheromones