Effect of Diflubenzuron on Egg Viability, Fecundity, and Adult Longevity of the Banana Fruit Fly, Zaprionus paravittiger (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

The longevity of adult Zaprionus paravittiger (Godble and Vaidya) decreased from 85 to 20 days compared with controls when they fed ad lib. upon diet containing 100 ppm diflubenzuron. Fecundity was reduced significantly from 141.70 ± 1.78 to 112.74 ± 3.77 at 50 ppm and the fertility of the eggs laid on one day posttreatment was reduced from 86 to 20% compared with the control. The maximum effect was on the eggs laid 1 day after treatment. This effect gradually declined with time with concentrations up to 100 ppm, but was permanent with higher concentrations. Eggs dipped in 1 ppm diflubenzuron suspension were not viable.