Biorational Management of Melon Fruit Fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae on Pointed Gourd

Two field trials were conducted to determine the bioefficacy of few biorational insecticides against melon fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae Coq.) on pointed gourd, during pre-Kharif and Kharif seasons in the year 2012 at Bhabanipur village of Nadia district, West Bengal. Insecticides of different groups (conventional, botanicals and microbials) were sprayed thrice at an interval of 15 days. The most effective treatment in reducing the fruit infestation was chlorfenapyr in both seasons followed by deltamethrin in pre-Kharif season and spinosad in Kharif season. Neemazal and karanja oil were the least effective insecticide in reducing the fruit infestation by melon fruit fly on pointed gourd during the respective seasons. The highest yield of pointed gourd was observed in chlorfenapyr treated plots during both the seasons.