Colorimetry of Papaya Fruits as an Index of Infestation Rates of Oriental Fruit Fly and Melon Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

An extensive field survey was conducted on the island of Hawaii to determine the relationship between the colorimetric quantitative ripeness indices of papaya ( Carica papaya L. cv. Kapoho Solo) and rates of infestation by oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis Hendel, and melon fly, D. cucurbitae Coquillett. Papaya ripeness was quantified with Hunterlab Labscan Spectrocolorimeter b readings taken at the external surface of the blossom end and at the most yellow spot are good indices of papaya ripeness and the rate of infestations of papaya by oriental fruit fly and melon fly. Data on natural infestation rates of papaya by oriental fruit fly and melon fly per blossom end and the most yellow spot b readings are provided. The efficacy of quarantine treatments being developed against oriental fruit fly and melon fly in papaya should be tested with the data presented in this paper.