Biology, biometrics and management of melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coq.) on bitter gourd, Momordica charantia L.
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Date
2019
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CCSHAU
Abstract
Investigations were carried out on biology and biometrics of melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae on bitter
gourd, monitoring of B. cucurbitae using para-pheromone traps and integrated approach to manage this pest in bitter
gourd crop during, 2018 at CCS HAU, Hisar. Studies on biology and biometrics of melon fruit fly revealed that the
average number of eggs laid by a female were 87.8±8.61. The freshly laid eggs of melon fruit fly were pure white in
colour and elliptical in shape with mean length and breadth of 1.22±0.07 and 0.23±0.04 mm, respectively. Duration of
incubation and oviposition period varied between 16.30±4.85 days and 18±6.32 hours, respectively. The first, second and
third instar maggot measured on an average 1.54±0.28, 6.10±0.82 and 9.29±0.80 mm in length and 0.29±0.07, 1.19±0.11
and 2.04±0.23 mm in breadth, respectively. The mature maggots contracted longitudinally to attain pre-pupal stage. The
average length and breadth of pre-pupa was 6.41±0.15 and 2.03±0.04 mm, respectively. Duration of maggot and prepupal
period was 5.80±0.78 and 0.70±0.20 days, respectively. The puparium was found to be barrel shaped with a black
dot on the posterior portion and measured on an average 5.98±0.38 and 2.54±0.14 mm in length and breadth with
duration of 6.90±0.87 days. Longevity of adult male melon fly varied from 18-31 days and 20-33 days for females when
fed with 5% honey solution. Total life period of male fruit fly ranged from 30 to 46 days with a mean of 36.2±5.77 days.
In case of female fruit fly total life period was slightly longer ranging from 32 to 50 days with a mean of 40.4±6.24 days.
Adult flies were moderate in size, reddish brown with lemon yellow markings on thorax with spotted wings. The average
length and breadth (with expanded wings) of male was 8.41±0.24 and 11.35±0.90 mm, whereas, the female measured on
an average 9.74±0.22 mm in length and 15.61±0.75 mm in breadth (with expanded wings). Sex ratio in B. cucurbitae
was recorded as 1:0.84 (male:female). Studies on monitoring of fruit fly with para-pheromone trap revealed that the
maximum number of fruit flies (on average 9.5 to 40.5 flies/trap) was observed in the month of September to first
fortnight of October with a peak of 40.5 flies/trap during 37th standard meteorological week. Maximum temperature (r =
0.611*), morning relative humidity (0.590*) and rainfall (0.747**) had significant positive correlation with trap catches
population of melon fruit fly. The present findings also revealed that the influence of all weather parameters was high and
significant on trap catches population of the adult male melon fruit fly (R2=0.76). Efficacy of various treatments against
melon fruit fly revealed that malathion + jaggery @ 2 ml + 3 g/litre of water showed significantly lowest fruit infestation
(14.83%) and maggot population per infested fruit (2.31 maggots/fruit) as compared to other treatments. The fruit yield
(8.61 t/ha) was also significantly higher in this when compared to the remaining treatments.
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