Dietary Preferences and Impact on the Life Cycle of Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera dorsalis

This study aimed to contribute to the biological control of two economically significant fruit fly species, Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera dorsalis. The research examined the effects of different host fruit species and artificial larval diets on their development. Experiments were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions (28 ± 2°C, 60-65% relative humidity). Specified five fruit varities were selected as a host including apple (Malus sylvestris), guava (Psidium guajava), mango (Mangifera indica), persimmon (Diospyros kaki), and pomegranate (Punica granatum). Key biological parameters taken into consideration were egg production, larval and pupal development time, survival rate, adult emergence percentages, and sex ratios. Comparisons were made between liquid and solid artificial diets under different host conditions. Results revealed that P. guajava was the most favorable host, yielding optimal egg production (297.3 ± 9.3), larval numbers (261 ± 3.2), pupal counts (237.6 ± 27.1), and adult emergence rates (86.9 ± 3.9%). Similarly, P. granatum exhibited the longest egg hatching duration (2.3 ± 0.3 days) and larval development time (7.6 ± 0.3 days). While M. sylvestris and D. kaki showed maximum pupal duration (4.3 ± 0.3 days). Solid artificial diets produced higher egg numbers (408 ± 108.3) and extended developmental periods compared to liquid diets, though liquid diets achieved superior adult emergence rates (80 ± 2.8%). It is concluded that P. guajava serves optimally for Bactrocera mass rearing. Moreover, solid diets enhance reproduction while liquid diets improve adult emergence. This can help and inform existing and future biological control programs.