Oviposition of the Papaya Fruit Fly Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker as Affected by Fruit Maturity

Abstract

A scale for assessing damage to papaya fruit by the papaya fruit fly Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker was used in the field to help detect egg and larval infestation. There were more eggs in green fruits than in ripe fruit, whereas more larvae were found in ripe fruit than in green fruit. Under laboratory conditions, papaya fruit fly preferred to oviposit in green papayas than in ripe fruit. In an experiment of the choice type, papaya fruit flies showed strong preference for oviposition in green wax domes than in yellow wax domes. The color preference of papaya fruit fly females was confirmed.