MELON FLY, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) [DIPTERA : TEPHRITIDAE]

Smooth gourd was found most preferred host for multiplication of Bactrocera cucurbitae. The fly was more active during July-August. Minimum temperature, relative humidity and mean vapour pressure affected the pest positively, while bright sunshine hours and vapour pressure deficit negatively. As B. cucurbitae increased, Dacus ciliatus decreased or vice versa. B. cucurbitae was dominant in bitter gourd, while D. ciliatus in small gourd. Marsdenia volubilis and ply as wood while ethanol and hexane as solvent were found most suitable for impregnation of cue lure. The optimum size for impregnation of cue lure in 1.2 cm thick plywood was found to be 3 x 3 cm. The plywood block impregnated with cue lure (ethanol + cue lure + dichlorvos in the ratio of 6:4:1) and sealed air tightly using aluminium foil can be stored for 2 months without significant adverse effect on fly catches. Green and Yellow coloured traps caught more flies. Mix bait of different ingredients was more attractive to B. cucurbitae as compared to bait of individual ingredient. Integration of male annihilation technique with bait application technique was found most effective strategy for management of B. cucurbitae.