Indian Journal of Entomology

To enable mass rearing of the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett, a study was undertaken to evaluate dietary constituents comprising of honey, water, protein hydrolysate and yeast powder. Different diets were prepared consisting of protein hydrolysate (1 g, 3 g, 5 g, and 7 g) and yeast powder (5 g, 10 g, 15 g, and 20 g) mixed in 5 ml honey and water 100 ml. Of these, the two diets viz., protein hydrolysate 7 g + honey 5 ml + water 100 ml and yeast powder (10 g + honey 5 ml + water 100 ml) were found equally effective in terms of ovary development and ovarian index, when dissected at 5^th, 10^th, 15^th and 20^th day after adult eclosion. In case of protein hydrolysate 7 g, the ovarian index was 0.38 mm², 1.75 mm², 3.57 mm², and 4.04 mm² at 5^th, 10^th, 15^th and 20^th day, respectively and in case of yeast powder 10 g the ovarian index was 0.39 mm², 1.77 mm², 3.63 mm², and 4.10 mm² at 5^th, 10^th, 15^th and 20^th day, respectively, after adult eclosion. In both the treatments, the ovary length and breadth were also significantly more in comparison to other treatments, consisting of different quantities of protein source. Thus, the diets containing 7 g protein hydrolysate and 10 g yeast powder were the most suitable diets for mass rearing of B. cucurbitae.