Data underlying the publication: Gut bacteria-derived volatiles mediate the Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae) attraction

Bacteria-originated volatile molecules play a crucial role in chemical
communications between insects, representing their promising application
as odor bait traps in pest control. In this study, we investigated the
behavioral preferences of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera:
Drosophilidae) towards the fermentation broth of seven gut-associated
bacteria using trap choice assays. All seven bacterial fermentations
significantly attracted adults and larvae compared to the medium control.
We assessed the effects of bacterial fermentations on bayberry fruits’
olfaction attractiveness to fly adults and found that the bayberry fruits
sprayed with fermentation broth from seven bacteria were all significantly
more attractive to insects than the non-sprayed fruits, resulting in
increased egg numbers. We also compared the attractive effect of bacterial
fermentations with a sugar-vinegar mixture and a commercial odor-bait. The
commercial odor bait proved more enticing than the unconcentrated 5-day
fermentation broths. However, out of the seven bacteria, 64-fold
concentrated bacterial fermentation of Corynebacterium (Actinomycetota
phylum) was significantly more attractive than commercial bait. Finally,
we chemically identified the predominant compounds 2-methylpropanal and
acetaldehyde, which are likely responsible for the behavioral preference
of fruit flies. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of how gut
microbes affect insect behavior and offer a potential bacteria-originated
odor bait for fly control in the orchard.