Incidence and host range of the melon fruit fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Central Tanzania
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Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Pest Management
Abstract
The incidence and host range of the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, was studied in the Morogoro Region of
Central Tanzania between October 2004 and October 2006. Occurrence was limited to low to medium altitude
locations. Populations reached a peak in the dry season, between July and September. Host plants belonged mostly to
the Cucurbitaceae family, with non-cucurbit hosts being infested occasionally and at low infestation rate. Highly
preferred cucurbit hosts were cucumber (Cucumis sativus), melon (Cucumis melo) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus),
while Momordica cf trifoliata was the most important wild host. Bactrocera cucurbitae appeared to dominate most
indigenous cucurbit infesters, with the exception of Dacus ciliatus which was still dominant in some cucurbitaceous spp.
Description
International Journal of Pest Management, 2010; 56(3):265-273
Keywords
Fruit flies, Ecology, Cucurbitaceae, Africa