Effect of Different Protein Based Diets for the Rearing of Melon Fruit Fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae under Laboratory Conditions

The melon fruit fly, B. Cucurbitea is a devastating insect pest of various vegetable crops. Its attack reduces the quality of fruits and make them unfit for human consumption. The present study evaluated the effects of protein diets on the life parameter of B. Cucurbitea. A significant (P<0.05) difference was found in pupal measurements, weight, period, fecundity, male and female emergence and sex ratio when adults of B. cucurbitae were fed with four different protein diets; while no significant (P>0.05) differences were found in incubation period, larval period, and longevity. A longer incubation period was recorded on troula yeast and the shortest was observed on on protein hydrolysate, while reduced larval period was noted on troula yeast and increased on casein. A shorter pupal period was observed on troula yeast and higher was recorded on casein. A significantly higher overall pre-imaginal period was recorded when B. cucurbitae were fed on casein, and the lowest was observed on troula yeast. Moreover, greater pupal weight was recorded on protein hydrolysate and lowest on troula yeast. The higher pupal length was observed on casein diet and lowest was recorded on troula yeast. However, the higher pupal width was recorded on casein and lowest was recorded on troula yeast. Similarly, in case of reproductive phase (pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition) the higher pre-oviposition period was observed on troula yeast and lowest was recorded on protein hydrolysate. While maximum oviposition period was recorded on protein hydrolysate and lowest was recorded on brewer’s yeast and higher post-oviposition period was observed on brewer’s yeast and lowest was recorded on protein hydrolysate. Higher fecundity was observed on protein hydrolysate and lowest was recorded on troula yeast. Longer female longevity was recorded on protein hydrolysate and lowest on brewer’s yeast. However, higher male longevity was recorded on protein hydrolysate and the shortest was recorded on troula yeast. A higher sex ratio was found on casein and the lowest sex ratio was recorded on troula yeast. We conclude that protein hydrolysate could be used as a suitable diet in the laboratory for mass rearing of B.cucurbitae on a large scale.