Chinese citrus fly, Bactrocera minax (Enderlein) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Sikkim: a study on its morphometrics

Abstract

A study on the morphology of adult Chinese citrus fly, Bactrocera minax was carried out on April 2023, at State Bio-control Lab, Agriculture Department, Gangtok, Sikkim. The mean body length of female recorded significantly higher, i.e. 11.28 ± 0.18mm, than male, i.e. 10.10 ± 0.25mm, with the mean difference of 1.17mm (p = ≤0.01). Female had a wider body (3.60 ± 0.06 mm) compared to male (3.09 ± 0.10 mm) (p = ≤0.01) which differed significantly by 0.51mm. Adult female possessed a wider wingspan, i.e. 23.30 ± 0.26mm significantly different than adult male, i.e. 22.25 ± 0.4mm with the mean difference of 1.04 mm (p = ≤0.01). Similarly the average wing length measured 8.65 ± 0.21mm in male and 10.26 ± 0.06 mm in female with the mean difference of 1.61mm. The ovipositor length recorded 4.00 ± 0.20 mm. This information is useful to distinguish between Chinese citrus fly and other fruit fly species of citrus orchards and useful in planning of the suitable management options.