Fig. 1

Design of bioassay chambers and oviposition attractants used to assay responses of gravid Ph. papatasi. a Attraction bioassay using sticky traps for testing various conspecific stages, including eggs. The inset shows a magnified image of the sticky trap showing a stimulus-containing micro-centrifuge tube embedded in the sand in the sand cup. A sticky metal screen was positioned above the treatment and control cups. b Oviposition bioassay for testing the effect of conspecific stages, including eggs, on number of eggs deposited by gravid females. The top view shows the screened top of the microcentrifuge tube that contains the stimulus and filter paper that serves as oviposition substrate. c Attraction bioassay chamber using sticky traps for testing attraction to dodecanoic acid. The inset shows the rubber septum embedded in plaster. Dodecanoic acid was applied directly to the septum to allow for slow release. The sticky metal screen positioned above the treatment and control cup traps females attracted to the septa. d Oviposition bioassay for testing the effect of dodecanoic acid. Dodecanoic acid was applied directly on the filter paper and acetone was applied to the control filter paper. Females oviposited on the filter papers. Image credit: Daniel J. Smith