| Abstrakt: |
Infestation rates of oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis Hendel, and melon fly, Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett, were determined in mature green, color-break, quarter, half, three-fourth, and fully ripe papaya (Carica papaya L. cv. Kapoho Solo) fruits. These qualitative ripeness descriptions were based on the extent of the fruits’ yellow color development. Infestation rates of papaya by the two species of Dacus increased with the increase in degree of fruit ripeness. The density of oriental fruit flies in papaya was much greater than that of melon flies, especially in half- to fully ripe fruits. The 1949-1981 survey record data and the 1979-1986 field infestation data revealed a gradual increase in the occurrence of melon flies in papaya, apparently because of changes in the farmers’ cultural practice. Papaya, which has been considered as an “occasional host” of the melon fly, is becoming a more common host under unsanitary field cultural conditions. Results of our study are discussed in relation to the biology and ecology of the two species of Dacus and in the development of regulatory quarantine treatments designed to disinfest papaya with the fruit flies. |
