Oviposition deterring pheromone inAnastrepha fraterculus flies

Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) females were found to deposit a water-soluble, durable, oviposition-deterring pheromone during ovipositor dragging on fruit after egg-laying. We present evidence that the occurrence of pheromone deposition after egg-laying, the amount deposited, and departure from the fruit without additional egg-laying after pheromone deposition are flexible traits inA. fraterculus, varying in expression according to fruit size and other factors. UnlikeRhagoletis, A. fraterculus males were not arrested by the pheromone.