Biology of Melon Fruit Fly Bactrocera Cucurbitae (Coquillett) on Cucumber

Abstract

The laboratory studies on the biology of melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on cucumber revealed that eggs were shiny white, nearly flat on the ventral surface and their length and breadth were 1.29± 0.05 and 0.27± 0.02 mm, respectively while, the incubation period was 1.50± 0.51 days with 81.41± 3.61% hatching. The apodous maggot was creamy-whitish and measured 8.45± 0.40 and 1.62± 0.15 mm in length and breadth, respectively while, the total maggot period was 6.70± 0.66 days. The puparium measured 5.70± 0.47 and 2.39± 0.22 mm in length and breadth, respectively. The length and breadth with expanded wings of the male were 6.42± 0.55 and 13.50± 0.66 mm, respectively whereas, in the case of the female these were 7.89± 0.58 and 14.32± 0.65 mm, respectively. Moreover, the total life period of the female fly was recorded as 38.23± 2.80 days, while for the male it was 34.78± 1.56 days.