Studies on Population & Management of Melon Fruit Fly In Cucurbits

The Melon Fruit Fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coq.) is distributed throughout the vegetable growing areas of cosmos. The B. cucurbitae is injurious pest of more than 125 species of the vegetables. The studies were conducted on the population densities and management of this important pest on three cucurbit crops. The study was carried out at two different locations in District, Hyderabad Sindh Pakistan. Three cucurbit crops, such as bottle gourd Lagenaria siceraria, bitter gourd Momordica charantia and ridge gourd Luffa acutangula were selected for experimentation. Furthermore, for the management of B. cucurbitae an experiment was undertaken on L. siceraria and M.charantia. For this purpose, three food attractants such as Nu-lure, Protein hydrolysate and Prima were sprayed on one meter square per plot as on spot treatment. Our study established that Protein hydrolysate is an effective food attractant in reduction of B. cucurbitae in all the tested cucurbits.Results of the present investigation would be useful in developing a sustainable pest management strategy in the cucurbit agro-ecosystem.