Population Dynamics of the carambola fruit flyBactrocera CarambolaeDrew and Hancock (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Guava in Peninsular Thailand

Bactrocera carambolae (Drew and Hancock), a pest of fruits and vegetables was studied during August 2012 to August 2013 in guava orchards and its surroundings in peninsular Thailand to determine the population dynamics. Flies were trapped with steiner traps baited with methyl eugenol as an attractant. Guava fruits were sampled systematically and categorized into three riped, matured and immatured. The fruit flies exhibited very similar patterns of population dynamics at various sampling sites with marked single density peak in April-May. The population density was large for B. carambolae trapped around guava orchards than for those trapped within the guava orchards at the agroforestry sites (p<0.001). Population density was not significantly different between agroforest surroundings and the town orchards. The population density was affected by the interaction of temperature, rainfall and relative humidity. The experiment revealed that fly was recovered in large numbers from ripe fruits.