Evaluating artificial diets for cucurbit fruit fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquilett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) maggots through age-stage, two sex life table approach

Abstract

The cucurbit fruit fly or melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquilett) is the most devastating pest of horticultural crops. Laboratory research with maggots and adults of fruit flies necessitates the need for mass rearing. Only a few artificial diets have been evaluated for mass rearing of Z. cucurbitae. With this mandate, the present study was formulated to evaluate the fitness of different artificial diets on Z. cucurbitae maggots in comparison with the natural hosts cucumber and pumpkin. Age-stage, two-sex life table approach was used to assess the efficacy of the artificial diets. Developmental duration (egg, maggots, pre-pupa, pupa), adult longevity, lifespan, adult pre-oviposition period (APOP), total pre-oviposition period (TPOP), oviposition period, fecundity and sex ratio were observed for life table analysis. Among the artificial diets evaluated, only D6 supported the survival and growth of maggots. Significant differences were observed in the developmental duration of maggots in D6 to the natural hosts cucumber and pumpkin. Other biological parameters and population parameters observed on the artificial diet D6 were statistically equivalent with the natural hosts. Thus, the semi-artificial solid diet D6 developed based on pumpkin and common bean powder without anti-microbial agents can promisingly be used for efficient mass rearing and laboratory research on Z. cucurbitae maggots.