Biology, host preference and management of melon fruit fly, bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) on cucumber
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Date
2022-12-30
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Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani
Abstract
The present investigations on biology, host preference and management of melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) on cucumber was conducted at Department of Agricultural Entomology, VNMKV, Parbhani during Summer 2021 and 2022. The experiments on host preference of melon fruit fly on different hosts under field condition, influence of intercrops on incidence of major insect pests of cucumber, bioefficacy of different combination insecticides against major insect pests of cucumber was conducted in RBD with three replications and eight treatments and host preference and biology of melon fruit fly on different hosts under laboratory condition was carried out in CRD with three replications and eight treatments.
The seasonal incidence of major insect pests of cucumber in relation to weather parameters was carried out throughout the season. On the basis of seasonal incidence of major insect pests during Summer, Kharif and Rabi 2021 revealed that population of pests was more in Summer than Kharif and Rabi due to variation in weather parameters. Further, seasonal incidence of predators viz., lady bird beetle and predatory spiders in cucumber was more in Summer than Kharif and Rabi. The predators were present throughout the cropping period when there was more incidence of sucking pests. The correlation studies indicated that the significant correlation was observed between pest population and different weather parameters.
The studies on host preference of melon fruit fly on different hosts carried out under field condition revealed that sponge gourd was the least preferred host with lowest mean per cent fruit infestation (38.08 %) and bitter gourd was the most highly preferred host with maximum per cent fruit infestation (64.48 %).
The host preference of the melon fruit fly with choice test using eight different cucurbitaceous hosts carried out under laboratory conditions revealed that bitter gourd was highly preferred host. The maximum number of eggs (65 ± 1.14), larvae (58 ± 1.13), pupae (52 ± 0.92) and adults (52 ± 0.92) were observed in bitter gourd followed by cucumber, pumpkin, watermelon, muskmelon, ridge gourd, bottle gourd and sponge gourd, respectively. Melon fruit fly was reared on eight different cucurbitaceous hosts under non-choice laboratory condition and the results indicated that bitter gourd was most preferred host of melon fruit fly which formed maximum number of eggs, larvae, pupae and adults followed by cucumber, pumpkin, watermelon, muskmelon, ridge gourd, bottle gourd and sponge gourd, respectively.
The biology of the melon fruit fly on different cucurbitaceous hosts carried out under laboratory conditions revealed that the incubation period of melon fruit fly, B. cucurbitae (Coquillett) on different hosts was ranged from 1-2 days. The lowest incubation period recorded on cucumber and pumpkin (1.20 ± 0.45 and 1.20 ± 0.45 days). The maggots developmental period varied from 6.00 to 10.00 days with a mean of 7.00 ± 0.71 to 8.90 ± 0.74 days on different hosts. Significantly shortest mean maggot duration was observed on bitter gourd (7.00 ± 0.71 days). The duration of pre-pupal period ranged from 1.0 - 2.0 days with average duration of 1.10 ± 0.55 to 1.40 ± 0.55 days on different hosts. The mean pre-oviposition period was varied when reared on different hosts. The females had a pre-oviposition period of 7 to 13 days on different hosts. The oviposition period ranged from 1-3 days. The female fly lived for 2 to 5 days after completion of egg laying on all the eight cucurbitaceous hosts. The female lived longer time than the male when reared on all the eight cucurbitaceous hosts. The female longevity varied from 12 to 20 days. The fecundity of females ranged from 62 to 90 eggs. The highest numbers of eggs were laid by female fruit fly on cucumber 87.80 ± 1.92 (85-90 eggs/female). The hatching percentage on different hosts ranged from 62 to 88 per cent. The maximum egg hatching percentage of 80 to 88, (83.80 ± 3.19 %) was recorded on cucumber followed by pumpkin, ridge gourd, watermelon, bitter gourd, bottle gourd and sponge gourd. While, minimum egg hatching i.e. 62 to 79 (68.20 ± 6.46 %) was recorded in muskmelon. The highest (male: female) ratio was observed (1:1.31) in cucumber followed by bottle gourd (1:1.24), sponge gourd (1:1.22), pumpkin (1:1.21), bitter gourd (1:1.18), muskmelon (1:1.17), ridge gourd (1:1.12) and watermelon (1:1.12). The longest life cycle was observed on sponge gourd (30.20 ± 1.48 days) followed by bottle gourd (28.00 ± 1.23 days), muskmelon (27.80 ± 1.92 days), pumpkin (27.60 ± 2.07 days), cucumber (27.00 ± 2.17 days), watermelon (26.40 ± 1.67 days), bitter gourd (25.80 ± 2.28 days) and shortest life cycle of male fruit fly observed on ridge gourd (24.60 ± 2.17 days).
The field experiment conducted to find out better intercropping systems for major insect pests of cucumber. All intercrops were superior over sole cucumber for pests population. Cucumber intercropped with spinach followed by chukka, safflower, fenugreek and lettuce, respectively emerged as most suitable intercrops to minimize the incidence of fruit fly. For ecofriendly management of whitefly, cucumber can be intercropped with spinach, chukka and lettuce. The population of thrips was minimum when cucumber was intercropped with spinach, lettuce, coriander, chukka and fenugreek, respectively. The highest count natural enemies i.e lady bird beetle and predatory spider was noticed in cucumber + spinach followed by chukka, lettuce, safflower, coriander and fenugreek. The treatment cucumber + chukka had produced significantly highest yield as compared to sole cucumber. Per cent increase in fruit yield over sole cucumber was found to be higher in all the treatments.
Bio-efficacy of different combination insecticides against major insect pests of cucumber indicated that all the insecticides were found to be significantly superior in recording minimum number of melon fruit fly, whitefly and thrips over untreated control. The results revealed that among all insecticide combinations, chlorantraniliprole 8.8% + thiamethoxam 17.5 % SC treated plots showed minimum per cent infestation followed by thiamethoxam 12.6 % + lambda-cyhalothrin 9.5 % ZC and novaluron 5.25 % + indoxacarb 14.5 % SC (25.26 % and 29.14 %) for melon fruit fly on both number and weight basis. Pyriproxyfen 5 % + fenpropatrin 15 % EC followed by thiamethoxam 12.6 % + lambda-cyhalothrin 9.5 % ZC and chlorantraniliprole 8.8 % + thiamethoxam 17.5 % SC were found most effective treatment in reducing whitefly population. Minimum incidence of thrips was found in thiamethoxam 12.6 % + lambda-cyhalothrin 9.5 % ZC which was at par with indoxacarb 14.5 % + acetamiprid 7.7 % SC. The treatment novaluron 5.25 % + emamectin benzoate 0.9 % SC and chlorantraniliprole 8.8 % + thiamethoxam 17.5 % SC proved to be comparatively safer insecticide for lady bird beetle and predatory spider. The treatment thiamethoxam 12.6 % + lambda-cyhalothrin 9.5 % ZC was highly toxic to natural enemies.
The highest fruit yield of cucumber was found in chlorantraniliprole 8.8 % + thiamethoxam 17.5 % SC followed by thiamethoxam 12.6 % + lambda-cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC. The treatment indoxacarb 14.5 % + acetamiprid 7.7 % SC was most economical treatment by recording maximum net monetary returns and highest incremental cost benefit ratio.