International Journal of Pest Management (2010) 56, 265-273

M. Mwatawala, A.P. Maerere, R. Makundi and M. De Meyer (2010)
Incidence and host range of the melon fruit fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Central Tanzania
International Journal of Pest Management 56 (3), 265-273
Abstract: The incidence and host range of the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, was studied in the Morogoro Region of Central Tanzania between October 2004 and October 2006. Occurrence was limited to low to medium altitude locations. Populations reached a peak in the dry season, between July and September. Host plants belonged mostly to the Cucurbitaceae family, with non-cucurbit hosts being infested occasionally and at low infestation rate. Highly preferred cucurbit hosts were cucumber (Cucumis sativus), melon (Cucumis melo) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), while Momordica cf trifoliata was the most important wild host. Bactrocera cucurbitae appeared to dominate most indigenous cucurbit infesters, with the exception of Dacus ciliatus which was still dominant in some cucurbitaceous spp.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Maulid W. Mwatawala

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Zeugodacus cucurbitae	Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)	Tanzania
	Zeugodacus cucurbitae	Melon (Cucumis melo)	Tanzania
	Zeugodacus cucurbitae	Watermelon/colocynth (Citrullus)	Tanzania
	Zeugodacus cucurbitae	Momordica (crop)	Tanzania
	Dacus ciliatus		Tanzania