Fruit Flies in Cucurbitaceous Vegetable

Cucurbits are the largest group of summer vegetable crops. Cucurbitaceous plants are classified into 90 genera containing 700 species. Most of the gourds are native to India, whereas pumpkin originated from the new world. India is next only to China in area and production of vegetables. The bottle gourd is a warm season crop and grows best in a warm humid climate. The pulp of the fruit is eaten as a cooked vegetable. Food Value of the bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Spandle) is minerals and vitamins. Cucurbites were destroyed by many insect and pests. Fruit flies are quarantine pest and there control is difficult. Its belong to family Tephritidae and order Diptera are important plant enemies of plants. Out of nearly 4,400 species of fruit flies distributed throughout the world, 250 species are of economic importance in which more than 200 species of fruit flies have been reported from India, however, majority of them have no economic importance.