AN ASSESSMENT OF METHYL EUGENOL DISPENSERS AND FRUIT FLY SPECIES COMPLEX IN ORCHARD AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS OF GOA, INDIA

Tephritid fruit flies (Bactrocera spp) are serious pests of orchard fruits throughout the world (Verghese et al., 2002). Faleiro et al., 2002 reported maximum activity of fruit fly in Goa in the monsoon during the months of June and July. Methyl Eugenol (ME) is the most powerful of all male lures attracting oriental fruit fly, B. dorsalis and several other related species (Kapoor, 1971; Drew, 1974; Drew and Hooper, 1981; Verghese et al., 2002). Male Annihilation Technique (MAT) is reported to control fruit flies (Cunningham, 1989) and has been successfully used to manage the pest in guava and mango (Qureshi et al., 1981; Stonehouse et al., 2002). In this study, field trials were carried out between June and August, 2005 in fruit orchards ofGoa with an aim to assess the catching efficiency of methyl eugenol soaked dispensers viz. plywood, soft board and straw board blocks and also to ascertain the species diversity of fruit flies in orchard agro-ecosystems of Goa [Western India]