Journal of Environmental Biology

Evaluation of different concentrations of Cue-lure for effective management of the melon fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett), in cucurbits ecosystem

S. Sunda¹, V. Arya¹, S. Narayana¹*, A.Venkateshaih² and P. Divekar³     

¹Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 221 005, India

²Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga–577 412, India

³Department of Crop Protection, Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi – 221 305, India

Received: 14 January 2024                   Revised: 17 February 2024                   Accepted: 24 February 2024

*Corresponding Author Email : srinivasa@bhu.ac.in                  *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3917-3713

Abstract

Aim: To identify the effective concentration of Cue-lure (CL) for efficacious management of melon fruit fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae), associated with the cucurbits.

Methodology: Wooden blocks were soaked in different concentrations of Cue-lure (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%), installed in trap bottles along with commercially used McPhail traps baited with tablet lures, were tested for higher trap catches, in the bitter gourd field. The infested cucurbits were collected from the fields and placed in insect-rearing cages to check for the emergence of the adults.

Results: The mean number of flies trapped/trap/week (FTW) was significantly highest in 25% Cue-lure compared with the remaining concentrations along with Tablet lures. On the basis of adults emerged from infested fruits, Z. cucurbitae proved to be the major fruit fly species infesting bitter gourd, with a sex ratio (♂:♀) of 1:1.3. However, in sponge gourd, a ♂:♀ of 1:1.9 was observed for Z. cucurbitae and 1:1.27 for Z. tau.

Interpretation: Z. cucurbitae is the most damaging fruit fly species for cucurbits in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. 25% Cue-lure solution was found best for mass trapping of responsive fruit flies.

Key words: Adult emergence, Cucurbits, Cue-lure, Parapheromone, Melon fruit fly

Copyright © 2024 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).