OVIPOSITION PREFERENCE AND OFFSPRING PERFORMANCE OF THE ORIENTAL FRUIT FLY BACTROCERA DORSALIS (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) ON EIGHT HOST PLANTS

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, is one of the most destructive pests of tropical and subtropical fruit crops. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of 8 fruit species on oviposition preference and the offspring performance of B. dorsalis.Total soluble solids and pH of fruits were determined by using respectively a refractometer and pH meter.The oviposition preference was evaluated in choice and no-choice tests respectively inside1 by 0.6 by 0.6 m and 30 by 30 by 30 cm cages at laboratory conditions.The offspring performance was assessed by infesting the fruits with freshly laid eggs and followed until the emergence of adults.The values of total soluble solids content werevaried from 4.18 ? 0.99 (tomato) to 14.11 ? 0.99 (mango) ? Brix. The highest pH value was obtained on the papaya (5.61 ? 0.08) while the lemon was the most acidic fruit with a pH of 2.47 ? 0.08. The oviposition preference results revealed that papaya and mango were the most preferred hosts by B. dorsalis among tested fruits in choice and no-choice tests. However lemon was the least preferred fruit in this study.Mango seems to be the most favorable fruit for the development of B. dorsalis with a shorter development time (18.68 ? 0.61 days) after the papaya (17.68 ? 0.61 days) and a higher percentage of eggs survival to puparia (67.83 ? 8.11%) as compared to other fruits. However lemon was the unfavorable fruit for offspring survival of B. dorsalis, with a longer development time (22.16 ? 0.61 days) and a lower percentage of eggs survival to puparia (19.09 ? 11%) as compared to other fruits.