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Life History and Management of Cucurbit Fruit Fly Bactrocera Cucurbitae on Sweet Gourd

Sagar Mukherjee
Department of Entomology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh

Dil Afrose Tithi
Department of Entomology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The life history of Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) on sweet gourd showed that the mean pre-oviposition, oviposition, incubation, larval and pupal period were 11.25, 9.75, 0.81, 12.25 and 7.75 days, respectively. The mean longevity of adult male was 18.25 days and the longevity of adult female was 23.50 days. The mean fecundity of a female was 52.75. The average length of eggs, larvae, pupae, adult male and female were 1.48, 10.13, 6.00, 7.50 and 8.75 mm, respectively. Whereas, the mean breadth of eggs, larvae, pupae, adult male and female were 0.48, 3.38, 2.18, 3.25 and 5.50 mm, respectively. The evaluation of different management practices revealed that the bagging of fruits showed the lowest level of infestation and the highest yield was obtained in the bagging treatment. So, the study indicated that bagging of fruits might be considered as a suitable method in suppressing fruit fly on sweet gourd.

Keywords: Life history, Bactrocera cucurbitae, Management, Sweet gourd

Location: Department of Entomology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-04-2007

End Date: 00-07-2007

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: Fly, Sweet gourd

Objectives:

The present study was undertaken to get the detail information of the life history of cucurbit fruit fly, and to find out effective and environmental friendly management technique.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in the laboratory and experimental field of the Department of Entomology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur, Bangladesh during April to July, 2007.

Biology and morphometric study: Five infested sweet gourd, Cucurbita moschata fruits that were aged more than one week were collected from the field and were kept in the laboratory in rearing jars. When adult emerged, one pair of male and female was placed in a single glass jar and its mouth was covered by mosquito net. The males were identified by their small size and rounded abdomen, and females were identified by their conspicuous sharp ovipositor. Sweet gourd fruit juice and water were supplied into the glass jar. Newly emerged males and females were kept for 10 days to allow their mating and one week old sweet gourds were provided for their oviposition. The duration between the time of mating and beginning of laying egg was considered as the pre-oviposition period. The ovipositon period was considered as the duration between the period of first and last egg laid. The fertilized females laid eggs just below the epidermis of the fruit. The incubation period was considered as the duration of egg laying to hatching. Some of the oviposited fruits were dissected for confirmations of oviposition. The incubation period was recorded from another set of oviposited fruits. The larval period was considered as the duration of egg hatching to jumping stage of larvae. When jumping stage of larvae appeared, the larvae became ready for pupation. The duration between jumping stage of larvae and starting of adult emergence is considered as the pupal period. Larvae were transferred into another jar containing appropriate moist soil in which pupation took place. When adult emerged from the pupa then the pupal period were recorded. The duration between starting of adult emergence and death of adult was considered as the adult longevity. Adult longevity was recorded by rearing them with proper supply of sweet gourd juice as diet. The fecundity of female was observed by providing young fruit daily. Every day a fresh fruit dome was offered to a female for laying eggs. This was continued until the death of the female. Oviposited eggs were collected by cutting flesh fruit with knife. The eggs with flesh were placed in glass jar containing water. Eggs were separated and their number was counted. For scientific information the data of different parameters were observed and replicated four times. Oculomicrometer was used for the measurement of length and breadth of the eggs. The length and breadth of larvae, pupae and adult flies were measured with the help of ordinary millimeter scale.

Experimental design, treatments and layout: The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 5 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments were: Treatment 1 = Nimbicidine (Azadiractin) @ 5 ml/litre water at 10 days interval, Treatment 2 = Secufon 80 SP (Trichlorfon) @ 1 ml/litre water at 10 days interval, Treatment 3 = Bagging of fruits at 2 days after anthesis (DAA) and left for 7 days in scaffold, Treatment 4 = Decis 2.5 EC (Deltamethrin) 1 ml/litre water at 10 days interval, Treatment 5 = Control. The land was divided into 20 plots (4.0 x 2.0 m2 ) with an inter plot distance of 2 m. Each pit (40 x 40 x 40 cm3 ) was dug per plot and each pit having two sweet gourd plants representing a replication. Raising of crop: The experimental field was prepared by deep ploughing and harrowing followed by laddering as recommended by Rashid (1993). The field layout was marked after final land preparation. Seeds of sweet gourd were collected from the BRAC seed farm, Basherhat, Dinajpur. Five seeds were sown directly in each pit of the experimental plots. Before sowing the seeds were treated with vitavax-200 @ 2g/kg seed. After sowing seeds, a light irrigation was applied. Required irrigation was regularly applied after raising of seedling. Two healthy plants were kept in each pit. Sevin 85WP @ 1.5kg /ha followed by a light irrigation was applied in soil around each pit in ring method and then covered with soil to avoid the infestation of cutworm. After germination of seedlings, soil of each plot was drenched with a 1% solution of vitavax-200 to save the plants from the damage of anthracnose disease. Weeding was done and drainage facilities were provided as recommended by Rashid (1993). Infestation of red pumpkin beetle was managed mechanically. Dithane-M 45 @ 2.5 g/litre of water was applied at the flower initiation stage for controlling the prevailing anthracnose and downey mildew.

Source of Information: J. Sci. technol. (Dinajpur) Vol. 5: 17-27 (2007) ISSN 1994-0386

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Achievement/Findings:

Evaluating all the treatments this study indicated that bagging of fruits at 2 days after anthesis (DAA) and left for 7 days might be considered as a suitable method in reducing fruit infestation, weight reduction and also increase the edible portion of single infested fruit and total yield.

Knowledge Management: Journal