An insight into population dynamics of mango fruit borer, Citripestis eutraphera (Meyrick), in Gujarat, India

Abstract

The investigation on population dynamics of mango fruit borer, Citripestis eutraphera (Meyrick) based on fecundity per fruit, total number of larvae per fruit and per cent infestation was carried out at Agriculture Experimental Station, Navsari Agricultural University (NAU), Paria, Dist. Valsad (Gujarat) during 2022. Results revealed that the most preferred sites for oviposition by C. eutraphera was found to be the upper portion (1/3rd) of the fruit (1.24 eggs) and along the periphery at junction of peduncle and fruit (1.19 eggs). Larval density per fruit varied significantly with fruit developmental stage and infestation pattern. The highest larval densities at the limestone (4.0 larvae fruit-¹) and marble (4.7 larvae fruit-¹) stages were recorded under single-fruit and adjacent two-fruit infestations, respectively. However, at the mature fruit stage, infestation of multiple adjacent fruits resulted in a significantly greater larval density (7.4 larvae fruit-¹). The highest infestation levels were observed during the 16th–18th SMWs in standing fruits, whereas infestations in dropped fruits from individual trees peaked during the 18th–22nd SMWs.