Determination of natural olive fruit fly pheromone in insect samples by enzyme linked immunoassays

The immunoassay, based on the Y antibodies, is slightly more sensitive (detection limit 40 ng/mL) than the assay based on polyclonal anti-pheromone rabbit antiserum (detection limit 80 ng/mL). As revealed by thorough cross-reactivity studies, including 14 structurally similar to the olive fruit fly pheromone molecules, the newer immunoassay is less selective than the previous one and seems to cross react with few molecules bearing the spiroketal moiety.