Attractancy of melon fruit fly (Diptera: tephritidae) to bacteria isolated from gut and ovipositor

Bactrocera cucurbitae is an economically important pest of cucurbitaceous vegetables. They harbour a diverse group of microorganisms as endosymbionts. Bacteria associated with the pest have the potential to be used in different pest management strategies. Laboratory cage bioassays were conducted to study the attractancy of melon fruit flies to their associated bacteria in laboratory conditions. Among the bacteria isolated from laboratory reared flies, Providencia rettgeri showed maximum attractancy followed by Enterococcus faecalis in all age and sex groups of flies tested. Among the bacteria isolated from wild population of fruit flies, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae were more attractive. All bacterial cultures attracted more female compared to male flies in the attractancy bioassay, and thus showing the potential to be utilized as a female targeted management strategy.