Eco-toxicological studies on Dacus spp.
Doharey K. L., Butani D. K.
Author Affiliation: Div. Entomology, Indian Agric. Res. Inst., New Delhi, 110?012, India.
Pesticides 20 : 14-15
Abstract : The biology of the tephritids Dacus dorsalis on mango, guava and sapota [sapodilla] fruits and D. cucurbitae on pumpkin, squash and bitter gourd [Momordica charantia] fruits was studied in the laboratory at 27°C. The preferred food, larval development, total life cycle, preoviposition period, oviposition period, mean number of eggs and female lifespan were determined for each species on each type of fruit. Of the fruits presented, D. dorsalis preferred mango and D. cucurbitae preferred bitter gourd. The toxicity of 0.03, 0.04 or 0.05% endosulfan, dimethoate or fenitrothion, 0.05, 0.1 or 0.15% carbaryl and 0.003, 0.004 or 0.005% decamethrin [deltamethrin] against both species was assessed. Fenitrothion was the most effective insecticide against both species, giving 100% mortality within 24 h at each dose. Deltamethrin was more toxic to D. dorsalis than to D. cucurbitae while the reverse was found with carbaryl.