Monitoring of melon fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) Col. (Diptera: Tephritidae) in relation to weather parameters

The present study on monitoring of melon fruit fly in relation to weather parameters was conducted in the farmers field at three locations viz., Bommankatte, Basavnagangur and Abbalgere using Barrix cue-lure trap during Rabi 2016-17. Monitoring of melon fruit fly revealed that the initial incidence of the melon fruit fly population begins from the flowering stage of ridge gourd and peak incidence coincides with the peak fruiting period of the crop. At peak fruiting period highest trap catches of 28.40 fruit flies/trap/week were recorded in mid-March (11th standard week of 2017) at Abbalgere, However at Bommankatte and Basavanagangur peak trap catches of 21.40 and 22.20 fruit flies/trap/week were recorded, respectively from ninth standard week of 2017 during peak fruiting period. The incidence of melon fruit fly from three locations showed significant positive correlation with maximum and minimum temperature. Whereas, afternoon relative humidity and rainfall had significant negative correlation with melon fruit fly incidence from all three locations. The incidence of melon fruit fly was influenced to an extent of 83.60, 67.50 and 85.90 percent from the respective locations by all the weather parameters together.