Effects of Food Deprivation on Attraction of Mexican Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Grapefruit in a Wind Tunnel

Sexually mature, mated female Mexican fruit ßies, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), from a laboratory culture, whether starved or not, were attracted to grapefruit in a wind tunnel. Females starved for 24 h were more strongly attracted than fed females but those starved for 48 h were equivalent to fed females in responsiveness. There were no signiÞcant differences in propensity to attempt oviposition on grapefruit by fed or starved females. Sexually mature, mated males, whether fed or starved for 24 h, were not attracted to grapefruit, but those starved for 48 h were attracted.