Comprehensive Field Assessment of Sustainable Management Practices Against Melon Fruit Fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae) Infesting Cucumber

The present field experiment was conducted during a single 2024 cropping season in the Experimental Area of the Department of Entomology, CCSHAU, to evaluate the efficacy of different treatments against melon fruit fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae) in cucumber. Overall results from spray applications revealed significant differences among treatments in reducing fruit infestation and improving yield. The mean per cent fruit infestation ranged from 8.95% to 30.26% across treatments. The lowest infestation (8.95%) was recorded in plots treated with flubendiamide 8.33% + deltamethrin 5.56% w/w SC, followed by malathion 50% EC + jaggery (9.94%); both were statistically at par and significantly superior to all other treatments. Among botanicals, azadirachtin 0.15% (21.55%) and azadirachtin 0.03% (22.46%) were at par, indicated no additional efficacy from higher concentration. Sequential application of azadirachtin 0.03% followed by Metarhizium anisopliae (29.22%) showed no significant improvement over M. anisopliae alone (30.26%). The untreated control recorded the highest infestation (53.43%), demonstrated the severity of melon fruit fly damage without intervention. Yield results followed a similar trend, with the highest yield (8.33 t/ha) in flubendiamide 8.33% + deltamethrin 5.56% w/w SC, represented a 56.79% increase over control, followed closely by malathion 50% EC + jaggery (8.14 t/ha, 53.28% increase); both were statistically at par and significantly superior to all other treatments. Among botanicals, azadirachtin treatments improved yields moderately, while M. anisopliae and its sequential combination offered minimal gains. Overall, flubendiamide 8.33% + deltamethrin 5.56% w/w SC proved most effective in managing infestation and enhancing cucumber yield.