Studies on the attraction, spread and distribution of tephritid fruit flies in different mango eco-systems in Kerala.
Thiyagarajan P., Thomas J., Mani Chellappan, Ushakumari R., Sosamma Jacob, Nazeem P. A., Suresh P. R.
Author Affiliation: College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara - 680 656, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
International Journal of Tropical Agriculture 33 : 947-950
Abstract : Spread and prevalence of tephritid fruit flies were based on the flowering and fruiting phenology of the mango and other host fruit trees. It was in the order of early flowering tracts to late flowering tracts as proved from methyl eugenol trap based fruit fly catches over an ecological distance from the Thrissur, Kerala to Tamil Nadu boarder. The fruit fly population was having an increasing trend from the early flowering zone of Muthalamada, Kerala regions to the late flowering zones of Thrissur, Kerala regions. The peak hour of attraction of male fruit flies to methyl eugenol bottle trap was determined to be between 4 to 6 pm and 6 to 8 am under shaded conditions.