Identification and Chemical Ecology of Semiochemicals Mediating Host Location in the Mango Fruit Fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) in Benue State, North Central Nigeria

Bactrocera dorsalis is the most economically damaging fruit fly species in Nigerian orchards, and management relies heavily on male annihilation technique using methyl eugenol as a chemical lure. However, volatiles mediating female host location remain incompletely characterized for Nigerian populations, limiting development of more selective attract-and-kill strategies. This study investigates the chemical ecology of host location behavior in B. dorsalis in Benue State mango orchards. Headspace volatile samples from ripe, unripe, and damaged mango fruit will be collected by dynamic sorption onto Tenax TA and analyzed by GC-MS. Electrophysiological screening using GC-EAD will identify olfactorily active compounds from mango volatiles. Behavioral choice tests in wind tunnel bioassays will determine attraction hierarchy to candidate compounds and blends. Field trapping experiments with identified attractants will be run for two seasons to validate laboratory findings under orchard conditions. This study applies chemical ecology methodology rarely used in Nigerian entomology research and fills a gap in understanding B. dorsalis host-finding behavior in the context of Nigerian mango varieties. Findings will contribute to the development of female-attracting lures for improved monitoring and control. Keywords: Bactrocera dorsalis, semiochemicals, mango fruit fly, chemical ecology, Benue State