Dataset from the paper entitled "Clove-derived eugenol induces strong avoidance behaviour in the invasive fruit fly, Drosophila suzukii"

This study shows that clove volatiles strongly disrupt host choice and reproduction in the invasive fruit fly Drosophila suzukii. The work was led at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in collaboration with the University of Pretoria. The experiments tested whether clove extracts alter adult behaviour and offspring performance. Adults avoided fruit treated with clove extract. Gravid females laid far fewer eggs on treated fruit. Exposure to clove reduced overall fitness. Larvae grew more slowly. Adult weight decreased. Emergence rate declined. Adult lifespan shortened. Chemical analysis identified eugenol as the dominant volatile in clove. Synthetic eugenol alone induced strong avoidance on several fruits, including apple, mango, strawberry, tomato and blueberry. Behavioural effects were linked to two odorant receptors using molecular docking and single sensillum recordings. A screen of 1,000 eugenol analogues also revealed several new candidate repellents.