Diversity and Infestation Patterns of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Chili Plants (Capsicum Sp) in East Java, Indonesia

Chili plants (Capsicum sp) are one of the vegetables that are widely grown in East Java. The most widely cultivated chili varieties include large chili, curly chili, and cayenne pepper. Fruit flies are important pests on chili plants that are widely found in East Java. This study aims to study the diversity and infestation patterns of fruit flies on plants. The study used a survey method in six districts in East Java. Sampling was done by proportional sampling. Samples of chili fruit indicated to be infested with fruit flies were taken and incubated in the laboratory. The results of the study showed that the fruit flies that infested large, curly, and cayenne peppers in East Java were of the Bactrocera dorsalis and Bactrocera carambolae species. Of the two species, the fruit fly B. dorsalis is the more dominant species (87.4%) compared to B. carambolae (12.6%). The infestation pattern of B. dorsalis occurs more often in large chilies than in curly and cayenne peppers. Fruit fly infestation B. dorsalis was evenly distributed in 18 research locations, while B. carambolae was found only in eight locations. Further research is needed to determine the factors that influence fruit fly infestation, including the role of semiochemical compounds.