Indian Journal of Scientific Research
Year : 2018, Volume : 8, Issue : 2
First page : ( 1) Last page : ( 4)
Print ISSN : 0976-2876. Online ISSN : 2250-0138.

Skewed distribution of melon fruit flies, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) owing to colour preference

Singh Shailesh, Singh A. K.*

Genetics Laboratory Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

*Corresponding author

Online published on 24 May, 2018.

Abstract

Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) is a melon fruit fly which is known to infest vegetables and fruits of plants that belong to family Cucurbitaceae. These flies are known to show their preferences to specific volatile chemical substances indicating the role of olfaction in selecting the host plant and site of oviposition. We tried to see the role of visual stimuli based on colour differences for the distribution of these flies. Flies were introduced in large plastic jars which were half coloured and half transparent, to see their distribution pattern in the two separate parts of jar. The experiments were conducted by using five different types of colour and the results obtained clearly indicate that significantly more number of flies settle in the area where the colour matches with their natural food materials. Based on the results, a strategy can be designed to trap and kill this pest fly by using colour specific flash lights.

Top

Keywords

Colour Preference, Visual Stimuli, Integrated Pest Management, Bactrocera cucurbitae.

Top