Aspects of Laboratory and Field Survey of Bioecology and Host Range of Oriental Fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera:Tephritidae)

• Joseph A. Adeyemi

  Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

  Author

• Muyideen O. Folorunsho

  Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

  Author

• Vincent D. Umeh

  Citrus and Product Development Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

  Author

• Emmanuel A. Oyeniyi

  Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

  Author

• Chris O. Adedire

  Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

  Author

The aim of this study was to investigate some aspects of biology of Bactrocera dorsalis on four fruit types (banana, citrus, mango, and pawpaw) under both laboratory and field conditions. The laboratory infestation of the fruits with fruit fly was done at the Biological Control Insectary of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Nigeria. The choice, no choice, and multichoice experiments were used for laboratory experiments while the field survey was carried out for a period of three months (January-March) within the six states of Southwest Nigeria. The highest number of pupae (15.25±1.11) and emerged adults (14.75±0.85) were recorded in mango while the least number of pupae (6.00±0.91) and emerged adults (5.00±0.58) were recorded in the no choice experiment. Adult emergence was significantly higher in banana and mango while the pupal population was higher in banana and mango compared to citrus and pawpaw in both choice and no choice experiments. The data from the multi-choice experiment indicated that the host fruit preferences for B. dorsalis evaluated in term of population of B. dorsalis on fruits followed the order mango (13.75) > banana (9.75) > citrus (6.70) > pawpaw (5.00). There was a significant negative correlation (-0.699) between total polyphenol content and fruit fly attraction. The percentage infestation index was highest in Oyo (22.22±1.92) and Lagos (24.44±2.72) states especially in March, which corresponds to a decline in humidity. The findings revealed that mango was the most susceptible to B. dorsalis infestation of the four fruits investigated probably due to a low level of total polyphenol.

1. Joseph A. Adeyemi, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

   Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

2. Muyideen O. Folorunsho, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

   Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

3. Vincent D. Umeh, Citrus and Product Development Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

   Citrus and Product Development Unit, National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

4. Emmanuel A. Oyeniyi, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

   Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

5. Chris O. Adedire, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

   Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.

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