Biology of melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) on sponge gourd

Investigation was carried out on the biology of melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on sponge gourd at Sardarkrushinagar during 2012. External features of all the stages were described, and morphometrics measured. The duration of various stages was studied at 30.12 ± 0.95°C and 68.12 ± 11.98% RH. The incubation period and egg hatching % was observed to be 1.40 days and 79.57%, respectively. The larvae (maggots) passed through three instars. The total larval, prepupal and pupal period was 5.03, 0.61 and 7.13 days, respectively. Maximum pupation took place in dry soil between 7.5–10 cm depth and 2.5–5 cm in wet soil. The adults failed to emerge from pupae buried at 34 cm depth. Sex ratio of male: female was 1: 0.93. The average pre-oviposition, oviposition and postoviposition periods were observed to be 15.33, 2.34 and 4.51 days, respectively. The average fecundity was 178 eggs/female. The average longevity of male and female was 27.53 and 33.60 days with total life period being 47.11 and 56.83 days, respectively.