Management of Tephritid Fruit Flies Targeting the Olfactory System

Recognition of chemical signals from the external environment through the olfactory system is important for insect survival and reproduction. A sophisticated olfactory system is the key physiological element for insects to maintain prominence among other animals. Insect olfaction is crucial for various behaviours, such as locating hosts, mating, foraging, oviposition and avoiding predators. Tephritid fruit flies are appropriate models for studying the chemical perception mechanism because they use a variety of chemical cues, such as host volatiles and sex pheromones. Many of them are also serious agricultural pests, and new means of prevention urgently need to be developed. Therefore, this chapter reviews the control methods of tephritid flies with a focus on targeting their olfactory system, including semiochemicals, the potential molecular targets in the olfactory system, and the future prospects of developing novel control methods.