2. 1.GUAVA
FRUIT FLY
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Bactrocera cucurbitae
ORDER –TRYPEDIDAE
FAMILY – DIPTERA
DISTRIBUTION - southern Asia from Pakistan
eastward through India and into Thailand.
3. BIOLOGYAND
BIONOMICS
OF FRUIT FLY
The adult guava fruit fly (GFF) is
about the size of a housefly, 5
millimeters (mm) in length.
The top of the thorax is black with
yellow patches, the abdomen is
yellow-orange with a dark T-
shaped mark, and the face has
two black spots which “bleed”
toward each other, sometimes
connecting to each other in the
middle.
4. NATUREOF
DAMAGE
Fruit fly infestations can cause significant
damage to guava plants.
Some of the symptoms of fruit fly damage
on guava plants include: Discoloration and
decay: Guava fruits infested by fruit fly
larvae may develop dark,
discolored skin spots and become soft and
mushy as the larvae consume the fruit from
the inside.
5. SYMPTOMS
Ovipositional damage in the form of minute
depressions may be seen from outside
Fruit soften at the site of infestation.The
affected fruits rot and drop down prematurely.
Ovipositional apertures lead to secondary
infection by several pathogens.
6. MANAGEMEN
T
To check the carryover of the pest, collect and destroy fallen and
infested fruits along with fruit fly maggots.
Tillage of tree basin also helps in checking the pest population as
the pupae and hibernating larvae are destroyed by natural
enemies.
Hanging of methyl eugenol bottle traps (containing 100 ml
solution of 0.1% methyl eugenol & 0.1% malathion) is highly
effective in controlling the pests. It is also helpful in early
detection of this pests and monitoring of its population.Ten such
traps may be hanged in a hectare at a height of 5-6 ft, well before
the ripening of fruits. If mango orchard is in the vicinity, traps
should be hanged form the second week of April.The solution may
be changed at weekly intervals.
8. DAMAGE
SYMPTOMS
Adults and nymphs feed on
petioles tender shoots and
leaf veins causing necrotic
lesions, coalesce to form
patches.
On foliage, brownish-black
necrotic patches appear
and resin exudes from
feeding punctures.
Blisters and scales / rusty
corky growth /scab
formation on fruits,
widespread drying of
shoots, inflorescence and
flowers and shedding of
fruits is witnessed
9. BIONOMICS
Female inserts 32 eggs
into epidermis of tender
shoot, axis of inflorescence
and tender fruits, egg
period 7-8 days, eggs
elongated and slightly
curved with a pair of
filaments.
Nymphal period 14-16
days.
Life cycle completed in 22-
25 days
10. MANAGEMENT
• Undertake pruning to
regulate the shade to
facilitate proper penetration
of sunlight inside the
canopy.
• Monocrotophos 36 WSC @
2.5 L in 1500 – 2000 L
water per ha at new flush
formation.
• Spray endosulfan 35 EC or
carbaryl 50 WP @ 2.5 kg in
1500 – 2000 L water per ha
+ Urea 3% at flower
initiation again at fruiting
time.
12. BIOLOGY
.
• Eggs: Eggs are very small white to
dull white in cloured layed on
Both winged and wingless forms
breed parthenogenetically.
• Nymph: The nymphal period lasts
for 7-9 days.
• Adult: Adults live for 2-3 weeks
and produce 8-22 nymphs per
day. Entire life cycle takes 22-25
days. It has 12-14 generations per
year
13. DAMAGE
SYMPTOM
• Nymphs and adults
suck the sap from
leaves, shoots and
fruits
• Yellowing of leaves
• Wilting of terminal
shoots
14. FAVOURABLE
CONDITION
Damage is severe
because the green citrus
aphid colonizes young
shoots, buds, grafts and
young plants, the
development of which is
inhibited. Spring-time
attacks are the most
deleterious.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA