Seasonal abundance, biology and evaluation of methyl eugenol and cue lure-based traps for management of guava fruit fly (Bactrocera spp.) during winter season

Introduction

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is an important fruit crop of tropical and subtropical regions. Fruit flies are among the major insect pests of guava because females oviposit in physiologically mature fruits and the maggots feed within the fruit pulp. Eggs and maggots remain protected inside host tissues, making direct insecticidal management difficult. Fruit infestation also promotes rotting, premature fruit drop and loss of marketable produce. Weather factors such as temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and sunshine influence fruit fly population dynamics. Understanding seasonal abundance and its association with weather parameters can improve timing of surveillance and management. Methyl eugenol is widely used as an attractant for male Bactrocera spp. and forms the basis of monitoring and male-annihilation approaches. The present study integrated three components: seasonal incidence and weather association, biology under laboratory conditions, and evaluation of methyl eugenol-and cue-lure-based Rakshak traps. The objectives were to record fruit fly incidence, study its biology, and assess the effectiveness and economics of different lure treatments.

Materials and Methods

Experimental site

The study was conducted during 2023-24 at the MES Horticulture Farm, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The experimental crop was guava cv. Shweta planted at 8 × 8 m spacing. The lure experiment comprised seven treatments with four replications in randomized block design.

Seasonal incidence

Weekly observations were recorded during winter. Fruits were examined for infestation and infested fruits were dissected to count maggots. Seasonal observations extended from the 45th SMW through the 4th SMW in the detailed incidence series.

Weather association

Weekly maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, wind speed and sunshine hours were obtained from the university meteorological observatory. Correlation analysis was used to quantify association between maggot population and weather variables.

Biology

Infested guava fruits were collected and maintained under laboratory conditions. The duration of pre-oviposition, oviposition, incubation, larval and pupal stages, fecundity and adult longevity were recorded.

Lure treatments

Cotton wicks were impregnated with the respective lure doses and 2 ml malathion 50% EC. Rakshak

Treatment

Yield and economics

Marketable yield was recorded in q ha -1 . Gross return was calculated using ₹3500 q -1 . The thesis used ₹6500 ha -1 as total treatment cost for the trap treatments. Benefit:cost ratio was calculated from the reported value of increased yield relative to management cost.

Statistical analysis

Lure-treatment data were analysed under randomized block design. Standard error and critical difference were used where appropriate. Correlation analysis was used for weather association.

Results and Discussion

Seasonal incidence

Correlation with weather parameter

Minimum temperature and sunshine hours were positively associated with maggot population, whereas relative humidity showed a negative association. These relationships suggest that the winter population was sensitive to the prevailing thermal and moisture conditions. The observed developmental periods show that females survived longer than males. The fecundity range was 200-235 eggs female -1 , while larval and pupal stages lasted 12-13 and 12-15 days, respectively.

Biology of guava fruit fly

Trap efficacy

Methyl eugenol treatments consistently recorded much higher catches than cue lure treatments. T 2 (1.5 + 2 ml) produced the highest overall mean catch of 30.72 flies trap -1 month - T 1 (1 ml methyl eugenol + 2 ml malathion 50% EC) produced the highest marketable yield of 69.00 q ha -1 and the highest reported benefit:cost ratio of 17.03. T 2 had the highest trap catch but T 1 was superior in marketable yield and economic return, indicating that maximum attraction and maximum economic yield were not identical.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated marked seasonal variation in guava fruit fly incidence during winter at Kumarganj, Ayodhya. The detailed incidence series recorded the highest maggot population of 12.50 maggots per infested fruit in the 52nd SMW. Minimum temperature and sunshine hours were positively associated with population, while relative humidity was negatively associated. The biology study recorded a fecundity of 200-235 eggs female -1 , larval duration of 12-13 days, pupal duration of 12-15 days and longer female than male longevity. Methyl eugenol-based Rakshak traps were markedly more attractive than cue lure treatments. The 1.5 ml methyl eugenol + 2 ml malathion treatment gave the highest overall trap catch, while 1 ml methyl eugenol + 2 ml malathion produced the highest marketable yield and benefit:cost ratio. Under the conditions of this experiment, methyleugenol trapping combined with timely monitoring appears promising as a component of guava fruit fly management.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementsThe authors are thankful to the HOD, Department of Entomology and Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, for providing facilities and support for the investigation.

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14. How to cite this article: Singh V, Chandra U, Singh R, Sharma SK, Dubey S, Yadav P. Seasonal abundance, biology and evaluation of methyl eugenol and cue lure-based traps for management of guava fruit fly (Bactrocera spp.) during winter season. International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research. 2026;10(9):955-958. doi: https://www.doi.org/10.33545/2617469