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Field Observations on Mating, Oviposition and Host Preference of Dacine Fruit Fly for Laboratory Rearing Management

R.M. Shahjahan
Institute of Food and Radiation Biology Atomic Energy Research Establishment Savar, Dhaka Bangladesh

A.D. Bhuiya
Institute of Food and Radiation Biology Atomic Energy Research Establishment Savar, Dhaka Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Mating, oviposition behaviour and host preference of the Tephritid fruit flies were observed in the field on four common host plants (Sweet gourd, Bottle gourd, Ash gourd. Bitter gourd) over a single growing season with an aim to develop a rearing strategy on artificial diet for SIT application. Sweet gourd was found to be the most preferred host.

Keywords: Fruitfly, Host preference, Mating and Oviposition behaviour

Location: AERE Savar campus, Dhaka

Start Date: 00-11-1991

End Date: 00-08-1992

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: Insects

Objectives:

To observe the mating and oviposition behaviour of the flies on several reported host plants under field condition to further improve the existing mass rearing and SIT from the field data.

Methodology:

Material used for the study was larval rearing bowls (4 cm dia.), pupation vessels (30 cm x 30 cm x 28 cm) and adult rearing cages (30 cm x 12 cm x 8 cm). Some homestead gardens (Four sweet gourds, 4 Ash gourds,4 bottle gourd and 1 Bitter gourd bushes) in the AERE Savar campus and Rayer bazar area, Dhaka city were selected. The observation period was November 1991 to August 1992 but the period varied on different host plants. Observations were taken on the following: i) Oviposition response usually once a week in the morning or at dusk. The ovipositing females were followed up to 15-30 minutes to record behavioural aspects whenever possible; ii) Host preference was recorded by following up the oviposited hosts ( flowers, young and grown fruits) in the plant and worm off flowers and keeping infested fruits in the laboratory whenever necessary.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agril. Sci.25(1): 51-55, January, 1998

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Usually the males remained underneath the leaves of the host plant and courted the receptive females from the back.The female deposited the eggs at 1-2 mm depth by telescopic action of the ovipositor.Although, the ovipositor remains almost vertical with the host surface, the eggs are deposited tangentially as revealed by pealing off the freshly oviposited fruits.The oviposting fly sometimes walks around on host showing a typical wing beat or searching behaviour.In sweet gourd, oviposition is preferred on the young fruit or restricted mainly 10-12 days after flowering. When the egg hatch, the growing larvae cause the fruit to drop off the stalk.In case of bigger fruit, it rots and breaks up in the stalk.In ash gourd,oviposition preference tended towards 2-3 days of flowering and went up to 12-15 days.In bottle gourd, the range of oviposition period was longer and it could be up to 15-20 days after flowering until the skin become hard and resistant to puncture. In bitter gourd,oviposition preference was more in the grown up fruits and continued even in the fruit. Recorded data indicate that sweet gourd is the most preferred one, bitter gourd ranks the 2nd and bottle gourd and ash gourd rank the 3rd out of the four fruits observed.

Knowledge Management: Journal