Management of Melon Fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) with Improved Protein Bait Formulation

Background: Melon fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae is the most destructive insect pest of cucurbits with much quarantine importance. They damage the economic produce of several vegetable crops particularly cucurbitaceous vegetables throughout the world. In India, fruit flies are considered serious threats to horticulture, causing economic losses ranging from 2.5% to 100% depending upon the crop and season.

Aim: Current research work was done on the management of fruit flies by focussing on attractionof both male and female fruit flies, as capturing male fruit flies only does not bring desirable reduction in infestation levels.

Methodology: An improved gel formulation of proteinex bait was formulated and evaluated in field conditions in ridge gourd for attracting both the sexes of fruit flies.

Results: Gel proteinex bait was the most attractive to female fruit flies followed by liquid proteinex bait in ridge gourd fields. Cue-lure trapped more number of male fruit flies followed by gel proteinex bait. Gel proteinex bait was significantly superior in reducing the cucurbit fruit fly incidence when compared to liquid proteinex bait and cue-lure. Improvised liquid proteinex bait i.e., gel proteinex bait was significantly superior in attracting both male and female fruit flies. When compared with the cue-lure traps, in gel proteinex bait traps number of males attracted was less. However, in cue-lure, no females were attracted.

Conclusion: Gel proteinex bait traps can attract both males and females and this is the added advantage of these traps over cue-lure traps. Before oviposition itself, female fruit flies are attracted to gel proteinex bait traps for the want of proteins for egg maturation and trapping & killing them before egg laying itself is a key reason for the reduced levels of fruit fly incidence. This was clearly noticed in our study where low per cent and level of fruit fly incidences were observed in the gel proteinex bait placed cucurbit fields.