POPULATION DYNAMICS OF ORIENTAL FRUIT FLY, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) IN RELATION TO ABIOTIC FACTORS

Field studies were conducted in Uttar Pradesh, India, in 2005-06 and 2006-07, to determine the population dynamics of fruit flies (Bactrocera dorsalis) and establish the correlation between trap catch and meteorological parameters. Methyl eugenol traps were distributed in various orchards and observations on the mean number of fruit flies trapped in the traps were recorded and correlated with weather parameters, i.e. maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity and rain. Results showed that B. dorsalis was the most abundant species. Correlation between B. dorsalis and weather conditions resulted in a non-significant correlation with maximum temperature, while a positive significant correlation was observed with minimum temperature, relative humidity and rain in both years of the experiment.