Monitoring of Melon Fruit Fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae Coquillett Population using Para-pheromone Traps in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

Investigations were carried out on monitoring of melon fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae Coquillett on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) using para-pheromone traps during Kharif, 2018-19 at CCS HAU, Hisar. The incidence of Z. cucurbitae started gradually and increased from 31st to 42nd Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) corresponding to the 1st week of September to 3rd week of October. Higher number of fruit flies (on average 9.5 to 40.5 flies/trap) were recorded in the month of September to first fortnight of October with a peak of 40.5 flies/trap during 37th SMW. Correlation analysis with various weather parameters indicated that maximum temperature (r = 0.611*), morning relative humidity (0.590*) and rainfall (0.747**) had significant positive correlation with trap catch population of melon fruit fly. The present findings also revealed that the influence of all-weather parameters was high and significant on trap catches population of the adult male melon fruit fly (R2=0.76).