Bio-efficacy of neem and other botanicals for melon fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) management

Melon fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) is pest on various cucurbitaceous plants and fruits. To explore the pesticidal property of indigenous plants against fruit fly, pupal dipping in 2 and 5% concentration of six plants was accomplished for 1 minute in the laboratory. Temperature was maintained at 32±3°C and relative humidity (RH) at 75 ± 10 per cent. Kaner, Thavetia peruviana was found best in preventing adult emergence and causing mortality of pupae upto 70.70% and 86.20% at 2 and 5% concentrations, respectively. Parthenium and NSKE at 5% were also found promising. The sequence of efficacy of different botanicals with respect to lesser number of adult emergence was Thavetia peruviana 5% > Parthenium hystrophorus 5%> NSKE 5% > Datura latifolia 5%> Cuscuta reflexa 5% > Pongamia pinnata 5%.