Host preference study of fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tepridiea) and parasitism potential of Diachasimimorpha longicaudata on different hosts under laboratory condition

This study was conducted at the Agriculture Research Institute Swat, Mingora, during the 2021 growing season under controlled lab conditions.The objective was to investigate the host preference of the fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis and assess the parasitism potential of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata on various host plants.B. dorsalis adults were reared on peach, mango, zucchini, and bitter gourd, and their life parameters were recorded.Results indicated that peach was the most preferred host, with the highest numbers of male (42.75) and female (47.50) fruit flies, followed by mango and zucchini, while bitter gourd had the lowest numbers.Peach also had the highest numbers of punctured fruits, pupae, deformed adults, and pupal weight.Additionally, peach had the highest percent parasitism by D. longicaudata (33.92%), followed by mango, zucchini, and bitter gourd.The findings suggest that peach is the most suitable host for rearing B. dorsalis and D. longicaudata under lab conditions, with significant implications for integrated pest management (IPM) programs.Targeting peach in orchards could enhance biological control measures by maximizing the effectiveness of D. longicaudata, potentially leading to more sustainable pest control strategies that reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.