Population growth and host preference of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on four common myrtaceous fruits

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), is a major pest of different vegetables and crops worldwide. The stage?specific life table of B. dorsalis was constracted on four common Myrtaceae fruits i.e., guava (Psidium guajava), rose apple (Syzigium aqueum), water apple (S. samanangense) and star apple (Averrhoa carambola) and their population growth was interpreted in the context of quantitative variation in respective fruits phytoconstituents. Host chemistry differed significantly among the fruits where guava was recorded the highest primary metabolites (PMs) followed by rose apple, star apple, water apple. Whereas, the lowest secondary metabolites (SMs) were recorded in star apple followed by rose apple, guava and the highest was in water apple. All the population parameters in respect to the fruit’s phytochemicals recorded the highest growth on guava followed by rose apple, water apple and least on the star apple. Their overall host preference was in the order of guava> rose apple> water apple> star apple. This finding highlighted the vital role of fruit phytochemicals on population growth of B. dorsalis and provide a foundation about host suitability or susceptibility-based trap crop selection for sustainable IPM during these fruits’ cultivation.