Abstract

In Cameroon, fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) represent a major constraint to fruit production in cucurbits. They are known to feed essentially on fruits, but some species are flower specialists. The present study aims to assess the oviposition preference of fruit flies on seven species of cucurbits along with two varieties (bitter and sweet) of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley at two locations namely Yaounde and Koutaba (Cameroon). The infested flowers and fruits were collected, examined and incubated individually under laboratory conditions. Dacus (Lophodacus) hamatus Bezzi (Diptera: Tephritidae) was recorded for the first time, from the male flowers of L. siceraria. Under field conditions, the females laid their eggs only on male flowers of both varieties of L. siceraria and no adult was obtained from their fruits and from both flowers and fruits of other six cucurbit species in this study. However, under laboratory conditions, larvae were able to develop on flowers and fruits of all cucurbits used in present investigation. The infestation rate and the mean number of larvae per male flower were significantly greater on the bitter variety than on the sweet of L. siceraria, suggesting specificity in the feeding preference of D. hamatus. This fly affects considerable the yield of L. siceraria at both the studied locations viz. Yaounde and Koutaba with mean infestation rates of 52.36 ± 5.72% and 57.63 ± 3.41%, respectively on male flowers of L. siceraria.

Key words: Fruit fly, Dacus hamatus, new record, feeding specificity, infestation rate, cucurbits.