Diversity and population dynamic of fruit flies species in methyl eugenol based parapheromone traps in Jharkhand region of India

Abstract

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are one of the most diverse group of insects, comprising over 4000 species in 481 genera. This study involved four mango growing districts of Jharkhand situated between 22º48' to 23º45' N L and 84º21' to 85º30' E L. Methyl eugenol based parapheromone traps were used for detection and monitoring of fruit flies pests during fruiting period (from March to July) of mango in year 2012. Three fruit flies species, Bactrocera zonata (Saunders), Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Bactrocera diversa (Coquillett) were recorded during the monitoring period. According to data of observation on this investigation, B. Zonata was recognised as the predominant species infesting mango fruits in the state, comprising 95.04, 93.12, 94.65 and 96.76 percent of population in mango growing areas of Ranchi, Gumla, Lohardaga and Khunti, respectively. Besides this, low population of B. dorsalis (2.13 to 4.01 percent) and B. diversa (0.60 to 1.50 percent) from different areas were also recorded. Maximum population index (FTD) were 536, 443, 715 and 460 recorded from Ranchi, Gumla, Lohardaga and Khunti district, respectively in the month of April, 2012 coincided with most susceptible stages of infestation viz. stone to fully grown fruit of mango.