Field Evaluation of Protein Bait in Attracting the Melon Fruit Fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) in Snake Gourd

In India, melon fruit fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae Coquillett is a destructive insect pest of cucurbits. This study evaluated its attraction towards gel protein bait, an improvised version of liquid protein bait, found to be attractive in previous studies in snake gourd. Two field experiments were conducted for four months each (preliminary one - January to April, 2023; and confirmatory one - April to July, 2023). In early fruiting and fruiting stages, gel protein bait significantly attracted more females than the liquid protein bait; as regards male, cuelure trap attracted more followed by gel protein and liquid protein bait traps. Evaporation of gel protein bait in the field conditions was comparatively less from that of liquid protein bait.