Influence of weather parameters on the population of Bactrocera spp. (Diptera, Tephritidae) in the mango orchards of Padanakkad, Kerala, India

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to study the seasonal occurrence of Bactrocera spp. (Diptera, Tephritidae) in the mango orchards College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Padannakkad. Surveillance of fruit flies was conducted using bottle traps with methyl eugenol lure. A total of 10,546 fruit flies were trapped with the predominant species being Bactrocera dorsalis. Four species viz., B. dorsalis, B. zonata, Zeugodacus tau and Z. cucurbitae were identified from the population collected in that order of dominance. Out of fruit flies captured, B. dorsalis, account for 97.97 per cent. The highest weekly population of fruit flies was recorded in the 14th standard meteorological week (SMW) of 2022 from April 2 to April 8, 2022, with 793 fruit flies, while the lowest population in 50th SMW from December 10 to December 16, 2021 with only one fruit fly. The monthly average population was highest in May with 667.5 flies per month and lowest in December with 16 flies per month. During the period of host availability (April to June), the population of fruit flies exhibited significant positive correlation with minimum temperature (0.805), and a significant negative correlation with soil temperature (-0.512). There was a negative correlation with maximum temperature (-0.329) and wind speed (-0.192) while a positive correlation was observed with rainfall (+0.204).