Vol. 7, Issue 12, Part F (2025)

Seasonal trends in infestation level of Bactrocera cucurbitae were analyzed to determine the factors that influence the infestation by melon fruit fly in the field and adoption of suitable insecticidal management on ridge gourd were conducted during pre-kharif and kharif seasons in 2021 and 2022. Percentage of infestation was recorded on the basis of infested and total fruits. The highest fruit infestation i.e. 49.36% and 53.46% was recorded during 32^nd (5^th August) and 25^th (23^rd June) standard week during respective years. The correlation coefficient between per cent infestation by melon fly with weather parameters exhibited a significant positive correlation with maximum temperature in 2021 and minimum temperature in 2022. In case of management chlorphenapyr, acephate, spinosad and deltamethrin were most effective bio-rational insecticide for reducing fruit damage by melon fly and provided higher yield.