Fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae and B. dorsalis)

Symptoms

• The adults lays eggs on the fruits, they hatch into larvae that feed inside the fruits
• Yellowing can be seen on the affected fruits followed by rotting
• Fruits become unfit for consumption and drop prematurely
• Older fruits show less symptoms, but on split opening, a mass of maggots in pulp is found
• Infested fruits are also attacked by microbes

Management

• Collection and destruction of infested fallen fruits regularly.
• Slight raking of soil during fruiting time and after the harvest to expose pupae from the soil.
• Cover the fruits with cloth or paper bags to ensure mechanical protection.
• Use banana fruit traps one at a distance of 2x2m spacing.
• Place cuelure pheramon trap before flowering (6 no /acre).
• Conserve parasitoids such as Opius fletcher (pupal parasitoid).
• Spray Neem Seed Kernal Extract (NSKE) (50 gram/litre of water).
• Drench Beauveria bassiana (20 g/litre of water) in basins.

Chemical Control

Extremely Toxic

Highly Toxic

Moderately Toxic

Slightly Toxic