Hexanol: a potent attractant for the black fig fly, Silba adipata.

Hexanol was the only field attractant for the black fig fly, Silba adipata, among seven generally-occurring plant volatiles tested. This leaf alcohol, dispensed in polyethylene vials inside clear invaginated McPhail traps suspended on fig trees, captured 60 flies/trap/day with a 3:1 ratio of females to males. Hexanol alone was just as effective an attractant as a 2% ammonium sulpate solution but much more selective in attracting S. adipata. However, the combination of hexanol with ammonium sulphate captured three times as many S. adipata as either attractant alone