Mediterranean Fruit Fly Attractant

ARS researchers have developed an attractant for the Mediterranean fruit fly (medflies), a major agricultural pest of more than 253 fruit and vegetable varieties. This attractant is ethyl (1R,2R,5R)-5-iodo-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate in an enantomeric excess of at least 70%, which could be used in combination with other commercial baits, is highly attractive to medflies. State and federal U.S. agents annually deploy more than 50,000 detection traps baited with trimedlure (the male medfly attractant) to monitor this exotic pest, which was introduced into the United States decades ago. In laboratory tests, ARS’s attractant is at least five times more attractive to medflies than trimedlure. This attractant could potentially be used for mass_trapping to help eradicate this worldwide pest.

Commercial companies that developed controlled-release dispensing systems for trapping fruit flies could use this invention.

Please refer to Patent Number 6,375,943, "Attractant for the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, the Method of Preparation and Method of Use," which issued on April 23, 2002.