Guru GyaanAgroStar Agronomy Centre of Excellence
Fruit Fly Damage and Management in Summer Watermelon and Muskmelon
Female adult lays eggs under the rind of developing fruits by puncturing it.
The emerging yellowish-whitish maggot feeds on its pulp.
Small damaged fruits fall on soil surface.
Rotting take place in-side on developed infested fruits and fall down.
Fruits become D-shaped.
Watery juice comes out from its puncture and later turns solidified and appears like brownish gum.
Quality deteriorates and affects market price. _x000D_
Unless taken care of, up to 100% damage can occur. _x000D_
Fruit flies are more active during warm environment. _x000D_
Collect damaged fruits periodically and bury them in soil. _x000D_
Keep neat and clean field. _x000D_
Raise one or two rows of maize around the field and spray insecticides periodically. _x000D_
For control of adult fruit fly, dissolve 450 g jaggery in 10 lit of water and keep it for 24 hrs. Add 10 ml DDVP and do coarse spray on crop once a week from the beginning of flowering. _x000D_
Install “Cue lure trap” @ 8-10 per acre at one meter above crop canopy to attract & kill the male fruit fly. _x000D_
Collect & destroy the attracted flies, twice in a week from the traps. _x000D_
Such traps are effective throughout the crop period, do not replace further. _x000D_
Install traps in an equal distance to each other in field. _x000D_
If traps are installed with the help of wooden poles, takes care about termites. _x000D_
Traps should not be too lean as they can fall due to air or wind. _x000D_
Be careful about the trap’s damage caused by dogs or other animals. _x000D_
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Video Source: vaibhav jamma MACL SOLAPUR_x000D_
Article Source : AgroStar Agronomy Center Excellence_x000D_
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